Boundless enthusiasm
News this week of developments in U.S./Polish relations that, locally, are bound to trigger much debate: The U.K.'s Guardian carried a story reporting that Polish government officials have confirmed ongoing talks with Washington concerning the controversial missile defense program. The Americans' plan, sometimes referred to as 'Son of Star Wars,' involves creating a worldwide umbrella of tracking stations backed up by interceptor missiles to stop any long-range ballistic missile attacks on the USA and its allies.
The article reported that not only is Poland "keen to take part," but also that Pentagon officials have already been scouting for potential locations in the mountainous south of the country. While the Americans are looking primarily for sites for radar stations, Poland has made it clear it would like an interceptor missile silo to be built here as well.
The entire tone of the article gave the impression of near-desperation on the part of Poland to be involved in an initiative that many independent experts claim to be unworkable. Nevertheless, quotes were carried by many people who obviously think it's a good idea. Former Defense Minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz, for one, said, "An interceptor site would be more attractive. It wouldn't be a hard sell in Poland."
That may be, although it is difficult to imagine a number of Polish politicians having nothing to say on the matter, and it's worth bearing in mind that the likelihood of its operational realization is not great. Although the California and Alaska bases, which would aim to shoot down missiles fired from North Korea, are under construction, the Central European site (to deal with rockets from the Middle East) is still very much at the planning stage; indeed, the article stated that "Poles are waiting for specific proposals from the Americans." The USA itself is also talking with a number of other countries in the region, and there is a proposal for a 100-square kilometer radar site in the Czech Republic that would be declared extraterritorial and a sovereign U.S. base.
Finally, despite the boundless Polish enthusiasm where a modicum of circumspection might have been in order, the Guardian story reported that Poles are insisting that their participation is first squared with Moscow, "for fear of creating military tension in the region." The Americans are reported to be working hard on this, "to clear a path with the Russians and reach a consensus."
Such mildly irritating sentiments of semi-appeasement, when juxtaposed with an appearance of Polish diplomatic desperation to secure U.S. favor, surely do little to impress foreign readerships. However, and in any event, a great deal of this may be so much whistling in the wind; doubtless all involved will have to wait for the result of November's presidential election before knowing for certain whether Poland will once again have foreign troops based on its soil.
The article reported that not only is Poland "keen to take part," but also that Pentagon officials have already been scouting for potential locations in the mountainous south of the country. While the Americans are looking primarily for sites for radar stations, Poland has made it clear it would like an interceptor missile silo to be built here as well.
The entire tone of the article gave the impression of near-desperation on the part of Poland to be involved in an initiative that many independent experts claim to be unworkable. Nevertheless, quotes were carried by many people who obviously think it's a good idea. Former Defense Minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz, for one, said, "An interceptor site would be more attractive. It wouldn't be a hard sell in Poland."
That may be, although it is difficult to imagine a number of Polish politicians having nothing to say on the matter, and it's worth bearing in mind that the likelihood of its operational realization is not great. Although the California and Alaska bases, which would aim to shoot down missiles fired from North Korea, are under construction, the Central European site (to deal with rockets from the Middle East) is still very much at the planning stage; indeed, the article stated that "Poles are waiting for specific proposals from the Americans." The USA itself is also talking with a number of other countries in the region, and there is a proposal for a 100-square kilometer radar site in the Czech Republic that would be declared extraterritorial and a sovereign U.S. base.
Finally, despite the boundless Polish enthusiasm where a modicum of circumspection might have been in order, the Guardian story reported that Poles are insisting that their participation is first squared with Moscow, "for fear of creating military tension in the region." The Americans are reported to be working hard on this, "to clear a path with the Russians and reach a consensus."
Such mildly irritating sentiments of semi-appeasement, when juxtaposed with an appearance of Polish diplomatic desperation to secure U.S. favor, surely do little to impress foreign readerships. However, and in any event, a great deal of this may be so much whistling in the wind; doubtless all involved will have to wait for the result of November's presidential election before knowing for certain whether Poland will once again have foreign troops based on its soil.
