Murmurs of discontent in the ranks
Chris Wells takes a grinding gallop through what the world's English-language press is saying about Poland
The tragic death of the first Polish soldier in Iraq appears to have led to the first murmurs of discontent to emanate from some of the U.S.'s hitherto staunchest allies. Writing an editorial in The Washington Post this week, the former Polish deputy minister for defense and foreign affairs, Radek Sikorski, warned the U.S. that it is running the risk of alienating central European countries that have so far been the most supportive. However, lines are there to be read between, and Sikorski's words were notable for a subtle but significant shift in emphasis. Gone are the empty platitudes about freeing the Iraqi people, and in are unhappy sentiments that it's not paying to be America's friend.
His first complaint, after giving the reader a brief recap of why Poland and the U.S. are so close historically, was that six months after the invasion, Polish companies remain sidelined on reconstruction contracts while the U.S. giants move in. The author referenced other central European countries that are also under pressure to write off billions of dollars of unpaid debt from the old regime without anything to show for it.
Sikorski continued by saying that these countries had also expected assistance in modernizing their militaries, and pointed out the irony that this modernization has had to be deferred because of the costs of committing soldiers to Iraq. He then cited the problem of visas to the U.S. While Americans can travel without visas to most of central Europe, natives have to pay USD 100 for the privilege of applying for a U.S. visa, with no guarantee of getting one. Why is this, if we're such close allies?
Lastly, the author mentioned the dismay caused in central Europe by President Bush's recent praise for Russia's President Putin. Bush's statement needs no further comment, being so wonderfully asinine that it is worth repeating here in full. Bush said: "I respect President Putin's vision for Russia, a country in which democracy and freedom and the rule of law thrive."
Although Sikorski's editorial was intelligently written, well thought out and concise, the analogy of this peculiarly 21st century tragedy with a child's game is all too easy. At this stage, we now have the bully's friends moaning that the bully won't give them any of the other kid's sweets, even though they kept a look out while the bully beat the other kid up to steal his sweets in the first place.
And, over and above all the recriminations about reconstruction contracts, Sikorski missed an important point that is being picked up by more and more commentators, especially legal ones. According to the terms of both the Geneva and Hague Conventions (to which the U.S. is a signatory), an occupying power has no right whatsoever to dole out reconstruction deals to either its own companies or those of its allies. Assuming the U.S. keeps to its word and hands over power to a democratically elected Iraqi authority at some point in the next few years, that body will be able (and, given the current state of affairs, more than likely) to break any contracts entered into on its behalf by the previous administration, without compensation. In doing so, it would be on very safe legal ground, and companies then operating in Iraq would have no course for redress.
Meanwhile, as Putin tightens his grip on the neck of capitalism in Russia, it has already been noted that Poland will benefit from the exodus of investment from that country which is looking for new homes in the region. It may be that in the next few years, Poland will have the Russian President to thank for any economic resurgence, more than the American President.
The tragic death of the first Polish soldier in Iraq appears to have led to the first murmurs of discontent to emanate from some of the U.S.'s hitherto staunchest allies. Writing an editorial in The Washington Post this week, the former Polish deputy minister for defense and foreign affairs, Radek Sikorski, warned the U.S. that it is running the risk of alienating central European countries that have so far been the most supportive. However, lines are there to be read between, and Sikorski's words were notable for a subtle but significant shift in emphasis. Gone are the empty platitudes about freeing the Iraqi people, and in are unhappy sentiments that it's not paying to be America's friend.
His first complaint, after giving the reader a brief recap of why Poland and the U.S. are so close historically, was that six months after the invasion, Polish companies remain sidelined on reconstruction contracts while the U.S. giants move in. The author referenced other central European countries that are also under pressure to write off billions of dollars of unpaid debt from the old regime without anything to show for it.
Sikorski continued by saying that these countries had also expected assistance in modernizing their militaries, and pointed out the irony that this modernization has had to be deferred because of the costs of committing soldiers to Iraq. He then cited the problem of visas to the U.S. While Americans can travel without visas to most of central Europe, natives have to pay USD 100 for the privilege of applying for a U.S. visa, with no guarantee of getting one. Why is this, if we're such close allies?
Lastly, the author mentioned the dismay caused in central Europe by President Bush's recent praise for Russia's President Putin. Bush's statement needs no further comment, being so wonderfully asinine that it is worth repeating here in full. Bush said: "I respect President Putin's vision for Russia, a country in which democracy and freedom and the rule of law thrive."
Although Sikorski's editorial was intelligently written, well thought out and concise, the analogy of this peculiarly 21st century tragedy with a child's game is all too easy. At this stage, we now have the bully's friends moaning that the bully won't give them any of the other kid's sweets, even though they kept a look out while the bully beat the other kid up to steal his sweets in the first place.
And, over and above all the recriminations about reconstruction contracts, Sikorski missed an important point that is being picked up by more and more commentators, especially legal ones. According to the terms of both the Geneva and Hague Conventions (to which the U.S. is a signatory), an occupying power has no right whatsoever to dole out reconstruction deals to either its own companies or those of its allies. Assuming the U.S. keeps to its word and hands over power to a democratically elected Iraqi authority at some point in the next few years, that body will be able (and, given the current state of affairs, more than likely) to break any contracts entered into on its behalf by the previous administration, without compensation. In doing so, it would be on very safe legal ground, and companies then operating in Iraq would have no course for redress.
Meanwhile, as Putin tightens his grip on the neck of capitalism in Russia, it has already been noted that Poland will benefit from the exodus of investment from that country which is looking for new homes in the region. It may be that in the next few years, Poland will have the Russian President to thank for any economic resurgence, more than the American President.
