WUI (Writing under the influence)

...had Reagan invaded Poland?

Just a few weeks before assuming the presidency in January 1981, Ronald Reagan seriously considered the idea of using military force to prevent a Soviet invasion of Poland, according to a political scientist.

Reagan discussed the possibility of deploying U.S. forces in Poland with his incoming defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, says Paul Kengor, a political science professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Maybe Poland would have looked like Iraq today. Poland today looks much, much better than Iraq right now but I wonder what will happen in 25 years. If nothing changes Poland will look like another western-European social-democracy. Reading the latest news from Poland is simply depressing. Actually, it would have been depressing had I still lived there; right now, I just simply feel sorry for the people who stayed.

Just in the past couple of days, the following were the headlines:

Most Poles do not want missile shield

According to the Pentor poll, 53% of respondents answered "oppose" to the question "Do you support or oppose the installation of a U.S. missile shield base on Polish soil?" Only 34% said they support the missile shield and 12% were not sure. The poll was conducted on January 23-25 on a representative sample of 800 adults. Margin of error is +/- 3.5%.

EC gives Poland deadline to propose how to limit budget deficit
Poland has to prove by August 27 to the European Commission that it is taking efficient steps to limit the public finance deficit to 3% of GDP set by Maastricht criteria by the end of 2007, says a document which the EC will adopt next Wednesday.

Compare this to the follwoing headline:

"Mexico gives the US deadline to propose how to limit budget deficit"

Brzezinski issues strong statement regarding Sikorski's resignation

Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor of U.S. president Jimmy Carter, delivered a statment regarding the resignation of Polish Defense Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Why would anybody care what either Brzezinski or Carter have to say after 30 years since those two put the US and the rest of the world in the periouslius situation we are in now?

Let's hope Iraq does somewhat better in 25 years from now.