No missile defence shield in Poland?

Talking to the Reuters news agency, a US diplomat mentioned the possibility of stationing the missile launch sites for the planned US missile defence shield in a country other than Poland should the current negotiations with Warsaw fail. Zdzisław Najder, a former director of the Polish editorial department of the US-funded radio station Radio Free Europe, criticises Washington's conduct in the negotiations. "It is not good when allies try to put pressure on each other through semi-official leaks to the media. ... If, however, nothing comes of the negotiations and the Americans withdraw their offer, I do not believe this would be such a great misfortune for Poland. Poland has earned the reputation of a state that fulfils its international obligations and alliance agreements to the utmost. So if it risks a breakdown in the talks with the Americans it also proves that it is capable of defending its own interests and at the same time maintaining optimal relations with its allies. The image of Poland as a country that knows where its interests lie and is capable of defending those interests strengthens the position of our country as NATO and the EU's visiting card in the East."

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