Abandoning Eastern Europe

[SicEmBaylor]

One thing that I haven't seen today is a discussion of the administration's announcement that it would not provide the ABM shield to Poland and the Czech Republic. The previous administration had made this commitment to Eastern Europe to protect against a future Russia that may have hostile intent and may try to reconstitute its lost satellites.

The Administration pulled the rug out from under them, so to speak, on (of all days) the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Poland. They've been abandoned twice within the last century by her so-called Allies -- first to the Nazis and then to the Soviets. We had a terrific diplomatic relationship with Poland that has potentially been destroyed by this action.

What really amazes me is that Obama's campaign pledge was to strengthen ties with our allies which really meant our Western European allies. It looks like that in the future you'll have Republican administrations favoring strong ties with Eastern Europe while Democratic administrations focus on Western Europe. My guess is that's because Eastern Europe is vehemently anti-communist (having lived under it for 50+ years) while Western Europe loves to flirt with democratic-socialim in ways not online the more radical elements of the American left.

___

Having said all that...

I'm conflicted because I'd really rather not have strong alliances with anyone. I'd much prefer an isolationist position, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get the US involved in another European land war to keep the freedom of a nation that we've let down so often before.

[SoonerStormchaser]

This should be a Pole!

[Jello Biafra]

One thing that I haven't seen today is a discussion of the administration's announcement that it would not provide the ABM shield to Poland and the Czech Republic. The previous administration had made this commitment to Eastern Europe to protect against a future Russia that may have hostile intent and may try to reconstitute its lost satellites.

The Administration pulled the rug out from under them, so to speak, on (of all days) the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Poland. They've been abandoned twice within the last century by her so-called Allies -- first to the Nazis and then to the Soviets. We had a terrific diplomatic relationship with Poland that has potentially been destroyed by this action.

What really amazes me is that Obama's campaign pledge was to strengthen ties with our allies which really meant our Western European allies. It looks like that in the future you'll have Republican administrations favoring strong ties with Eastern Europe while Democratic administrations focus on Western Europe. My guess is that's because Eastern Europe is vehemently anti-communist (having lived under it for 50+ years) while Western Europe loves to flirt with democratic-socialim in ways not online the more radical elements of the American left.

___

Having said all that...

I'm conflicted because I'd really rather not have strong alliances with anyone. I'd much prefer an isolationist position, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get the US involved in another European land war to keep the freedom of a nation that we've let down so often before.

freaking rookie....what dont you understand about MOST party affiliations?

dems usually like to spend their money other places than defense.
republicans like a big beefy defense. the end.

with all of this being said, anyone know any good pollock jokes?

[yermom]

no, see we are working on that alliance with Russia. giving them Poland and the Czechs goes a long way

[OklahomaTuba]

What really amazes me is that Obama's campaign pledge was to strengthen ties with our allies which really meant our Western European allies.

Poland's foreign minister wouldn't even talk to Hillary on the phone after this. I'm guessing this is what Dear Leader meant by a "smarter foreign policy"?? I wonder who else we can stab in the back on a historic anniversary???

Every day makes it all that much clearer what a disastrous failure Obama is turning out to be.

[OklahomaTuba]

no, see we are working on that alliance with Russia. giving them Poland and the Czechs goes a long way

I think someone tried that approach once before. Can't remember if it worked out well or not.

[Veritas]

Obama's foreign policy seems to consist of kissing the asses of countries who've screwed us and giving the middle finger to those who've helped.

That dickhole's reign can't end soon enough. Although the Kanye comment was pretty cool.

[JohnnyMack]

While attempting to place no judgment on the decision by the Obama administration, and not being well versed enough in the intricacies of what exactly it is they're talking about, I do remember reading that Obama was proposing a cheaper, more scaled back version of W's missle defense system. What Obama was talking about was a defense system geared at stopping the sort of short range and medium range missles a country like Iran would be able to produce.

If that's true it seems that anyone who purports to be a Conservative would welcome a reduction in government spending, no? Also it seems to be a less adversarial plan than the one issued by the previous administration. Again I'm not well schooled enough in the minutiae of Russian / Eastern Europe politics and how it currently stands to understand what Russia's long term goals are, but why would not having a missle defense shield in place make Poland less safe? So if we have it in place and the Russians opt to invade Poland we start WWIII over it? Conversely if we don't have it in place does Russia just nuke Poland into the ground because our missles aren't there? Putin's all, "Ha, ha! Looks what I dids!" and then go for a spin on his newly formed sheet of glass? Seems like a lot of scare tactics from the right are being used to whip up some artificial fervor over the decision not to place some monitoring stations and ten missles that were to be placed a bit too close to Russia's backyard.

Overall the decision Obama made is hardly a surprising one considering his party affiliation. The Doves will hail the decision and the Hawks will call him an appeaser.

[Bourbon St Sooner]

We don't need missle defense against the Russians, we're just taking all their women. In 100 years they'll just cease to exist. Either that or they'll be so frustrated from the lack of sex that they'll nuke us back to the stone age.

[badger]

I don't know what to think about this - I would really like to see other countries take responsibility for themselves, just like we are all expected to be responsible and take care of ourselves and for our families.

I am not sure I like the idea of future administrations backing out of promises made by previous administrations. It might give the impression that the United States is not so united.

[mdklatt]

Does anybody really think Russia is going to launch a missile attack on Eastern Europe any time soon?

[badger]

Does anybody really think Russia is going to launch a missile attack on Eastern Europe any time soon?

No, but I'm over here on this side of the Atlantic. I wonder what Poland thinks?

[King Crimson]

that commie Gates was for it.

jeez, Sic...what happened to your Pat Buchanan in 92 crypto-isolationism stance?

[badger]

I know Gates is an Aggie and all, but it was a good thing for him to stay on as secretary of defense despite the administration switch.

Rice band: Normally we'd make a jokes about A&M and defense, but the Aggies might be onto something, considering they held you to seven points.

(Rice band forms a giant number 7)

Old Texas crowd: Hahahahaha!
Texas student section: Boooooo!

Note: This was the next season after A&M beat Texas 12-7 to backdoor us into the Big 12 title game with ENA under center.

[My Opinion Matters]

Does anybody really think Russia is going to launch a missile attack on Eastern Europe any time soon?

Come on, these are the same people that are convinced that Obama is a clandestine Islamo-fascist/socialist/communist (Those all mean the same thing, right? No time to look it up!) that takes orders from Osama Bin Laden and the corpse of Chairman Mao. You know why an authentic copy of Obama's birth certificate can't be produced? Because it has Satan listed as his father!!!

[mdklatt]

Come on, these are the same people that are convinced that Obama is a clandestine Islamo-fascist/socialist/communist (Those all mean the same thing, right? No time to look it up!) that takes orders from Osama Bin Laden and the corpse of Chairman Mao. You know why an authentic copy of Obama's birth certificate can't be produced? Because it has Satan listed as his father!!!

I wouldn't describe anybody in this thread (so far!) that way. I know the usual suspects are going to be all "ZOMG the Dear Leader is hanging our greatest allies in the world the Czechs out to dry!!!" But I want to know if anybody honestly believes that if Russia does get frisky--something I don't rule out--that their first order of business will be to MIRV Warsaw and Prague into oblivion. If we really think Eastern Europe needs protection, maybe we're better off cranking up M1A1 production and staging REFORGER (REFORPOL?) exercises just like to the good old days.

If Russia goes all in with anybody in the future, it's going to be China not NATO.

[NormanPride]

Crappy move to do it on the day he did. I don't mind the move as much because it's Poland and I don't care about Poland. But his overall trend of mucking foreign relations up is very disturbing. If you look up the definition of "tact" you'll find a picture of Obama giving the thumbs-down.

[Sooner_Havok]

Didn't we have to twist Poland's arm to be able to do this in the first place? I remember them not being 100% on board with the plan in the first place.

[badger]

Hillary Clinton to the rescue! She said the U.S. would "never, never" abandon our allies!

With her having said that, none of you should have any worries whatsoever, especially you Czechers and Polish in the South Oval... well, at least till they give Bill Clinton a microphone, heh.

[mdklatt]

Crappy move to do it on the day he did.

Yeah, that was pretty Bush league.

Maybe he gave the Polish president an iPod to smooth things over.