Poland

[Ant22]

Against whom? US to ship Patriot anti-missile systems to Poland for $10.5 billion
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/against-whom-us-to-ship-patriot-anti.html

The United States have decided to supply Poland with "Patriot" anti-missile systems worth about $ 10.5 billion. Such information was reported by the Office of Defense Cooperation of the US Department of Defense.

In early July this year, the US Department of Defense and the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed an agreement on the delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Warsaw. The signing of this document took place during the visit of the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, to Warsaw.

As Polish Defense Minister, Mantoni Macechevic, informed earlier, the Polish authorities have received a proposal from the manufacturer of the systems, according to which the complexes will be manufactured and delivered to Poland by in 2019.

The anti-missile shields in Poland are a part of a bigger agenda and although the Polish government often acts like it is an important player on the world politics chessboard, it is merely a US?NATO pawn. Given that American military superiority is exaggerated this isn't likely to end well for its partners.


NATO readying Europe’s infrastructure for war a ‘bad signal’ for Russia – general to RT: https://www.rt.com/news/409176-us-war-russia-europe-nato/

NATO’s urging its members to make its civilian infrastructure suitable for military maneuvers is a “bad sign,” a three-star Russian general told RT. He argued that it shows Washington would like to see Europe and Russia battling each other.

“This is a bad signal,” Colonel General Leonid Ivashov, formerly a high-ranking Defense Ministry official, told RT on Wednesday. “NATO has no near-peer opponent in terms of the overall amount of divisions and military equipment, as well as command structures.” Ivashov, now president of the Moscow-based Academy for Geopolitical Problems think-tank, added that new developments in Europe may indicate the military bloc is preparing to target Russia.

The general cited the accumulation of US-run military structures and the deployment of four NATO-led, battalion-sized tactical groups in Eastern Europe which, in turn, “may be expanded into brigades and then divisions.”

“It indicates that they, the Americans in the first place, are preparing to start a war in Europe, and you can wage a war in Europe against Russia only,” Ivashov stated. Russia, he said, must draw “its own conclusions” and step up the Armed Forces’ defensive capabilities on its western flanks.

On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the bloc members to make civilian infrastructure – including roads and bridges – meet military requirements to “improve the movement of troops and equipment within Europe.”

The measure, coupled with reorganization of NATO command structure is necessary to counter the alleged threat from Russian, Stoltenberg noted. “This is not only about commands. We also need to ensure that roads and bridges are strong enough to take our largest vehicles, and that rail networks are equipped for the rapid deployment of tanks and heavy equipment,” he said at a pre-ministerial press conference on Tuesday.

Ivashov said NATO’s moves are creating additional tension in the European theater, adding that “the Americans are frequently trying to stage some provocations.” The bloc may employ Russia’s legitimate response to such provocations – for instance, a border incident involving a military aircraft or a warship – to push the situation towards the brink of an armed conflict.

“This is the danger,” the general warned. “The Americans want Europe and Russia to battle each other in the European theater”

And:

US missile shield part of ‘prompt global strike’ doctrine fuelling new arms race – Russian MoD: https://www.rt.com/news/406535-us-missile-shield-arms-race/

he US anti-missile system is designed to provide Washington with a “prompt global strike” capability without fear of retaliation. This in turn pushes other countries into building up and upgrading their own weaponry, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

“The US missile defense serves as a stimulus for the enhancement of missile capabilities in the world, thus effectively provoking a new arms race,” said the ministry’s spokesman, Colonel Aleksandr Emelyanov. The colonel was speaking during a joint Russian-Chinese military briefing, held on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly committee meeting on monitoring international security issues and disarmament.

The missile defense system is in fact a crucial part of Washington’s planned “prompt global strike” contingency, which could target any US adversary in the world, potentially including Russia or China, the colonel explained.

Thus the “unlimited deployment” of the elements of the US global missile defense system around the world poses a “threat to humanity” and is a “major challenge” to global security.

“A link between the deployment of the missile defense elements and the development of the prompt global strike system is evident,” said Emelyanov, adding that such a concept could involve launching a “disarming strike” against Russia’s or China’s strategic nuclear forces, the missile defense system being subsequently used to protect the US from any retaliatory move.

The development of such a system is just “further evidence proving that Washington is seeking to disrupt the existing balance of power and achieve global strategic dominance,” the colonel added. He also warned that further expansion of the US missile defense system poses a grave danger to international security, as it would significantly lower the threshold of a potential use of nuclear weapons by the US and its allies.

The US is in fact building up its missile defense capabilities in an effort to build a capacity to use nuclear weapons with “minimal costs,” Emelyanov stated.

“The global missile defense system lowers the threshold of the use of nuclear weapons as it creates an illusion of impunity in case of a surprise [US] attack, using strategic offensive weapons under the ‘missile defense umbrella’,” he said.

Emelyanov warned that the US continues to misinform the international community about its true capabilities, even though the sheer number of the US ABM interceptor missiles is expected to exceed the number of warheads mounted on the Russian ballistic intercontinental missiles at some point.

“The US specialists use explicitly unrealistic scenarios and basic data” in their assessment of the missile defense systems’ capabilities, thus providing misleading information about their true potential, he said.

Meanwhile the deployment of US missile defense does little to protect the countries where its elements are stationed, but on the contrary puts them at risk instead as it makes them targets for potential strikes while still defending primarily the US territory and its interests, Emelyanov stressed.

“It is Washington that will decide, whom these systems will protect,” Emelyanov said, adding that the countries hosting the elements of the US ABM in fact become “hostages” of the US policies.

The number of US anti-ballistic missiles could reach 1,000 by 2022, according to Emelyanov.

“Such an amount of missile defense assets poses a threat to the Russian deterrence capacity, especially taking into account the ongoing work on upgrading their missile defense systems,” he said.

Currently, the US missile defense includes 30 Ground-Based Interceptors (GBI), 130 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) systems, and 150 missile defense complexes.

According to Emelyanov, Washington deployed 60 anti-ballistic missiles to Europe and 150 more to the Pacific Rim.

Deteriorating relations between the US and Russia are slipping into complete “distrust” and indeed could spill over into an “emerging arms race,” warned Joseph Cheng, a political analyst and professor at Hong Kong City University.

“The United States certainly has been spending more to develop more new strategic weapons systems and strengthening their missile defense systems. The latter is certainly strategically destabilizing,” Cheng told RT.

Meanwhile, the US arms-buildup trend is also making China apprehensive about the strategic balance in the world.

“Beijing is certainly very concerned… And certainly, China is aware of its disadvantage in terms of strategic capabilities and technological development at this stage. China needs time to catch up,” Cheng said.

 

[angelburst29]

Ex-head of the Ministry of Transport, Yevgeny Chervonenko, has commented on the situation on the Western border, where thousands of heavy trucks accumulated in anticipation of permission to cross from Ukraine.

Poles block Ukrainian trucks from crossing border
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/poles-blocks-ukrainian-trucks-from.html

According to Chervonenko, Poland does is not allowing trucks with goods in because of the politics in Kiev. Earlier, Warsaw also banned entry to the secretary of the Ukrainian commission on issues of war and political repression. They stated - the behavior of Svyatoslav Sheremet is unacceptable, and clarified, the propaganda of criminal ideologies, including Nazism - in Poland is banned. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called it a violation of the agreements and called on the Polish ambassador.

"In Lviv, thousands of trucks have accumulated on all western borders due to the fact that we played too much on Bandera, Shukhevych, and our path to to Europe has been completely blocked in all meanings of that phrase" said Chervonenko, former Minister of Transport and Communications of Ukraine.

It was not elaborated which resolution Polish authorities are seeking, and for how long the trucks will be stranded.

 

[angelburst29]

The Polish press has alleged that Russia plans to deploy its Iskander-M missile systems in the Kaliningrad region on a permanent basis. It is only natural, given Warsaw's decision on the deployment of US Patriot interceptors in Poland, independent Polish political commentator Janusz Niedzwiedzki has told Sputnik.

How Russia Could Respond to NATO's Eastern Flank Military Build-Up
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201711141059081226-russia-poland-iskander-patriot-missiles/

Polish political analyst Janusz Niedzwiedzki recalled that even before Warsaw decided to deploy an American missile base in Poland, Russia said that if it takes place, Moscow will respond symmetrically to an increase in the US presence in that part of Europe.

"In my opinion, all this is about a natural cause and effect. The reason for the increase in [Russia]'s missile power in Kaliningrad is the decision by Warsaw to deploy the US missile systems in Poland," Niedzwiedzki said.

Warsaw has appealed to Polish public opinion and tries to describe Russia's move as something that should incite fear, rather than as a symmetrical response to the decisions previously made by Polish authorities, he noted.

He said that "the atmosphere of fear is constantly being fueled in Poland amid allegations of Russia's looming aggression against this Eastern European country."

"But this deployment of [Iskander] missiles in the Kaliningrad region is just a natural consequence. With Russia's main geopolitical adversary deploying its military hardware near Russian borders, Moscow has no other choice but to build up its defense potential," When asked about the speculations printed by Poland's Rzeczpospolita newspaper on Russia's "persistent drive" to modernize its army, Niedzwiedzki pointed to the Western media's approach to covering the joint Russia-Belarus Zapad 2017 strategic drills.

He recalled that for two months, the Polish public had been constantly scared by reports that the drills are allegedly only a cover for Russia's military activity which could result in an attack on Poland or — in line with the most optimistic scenario — the occupation of Belarus.

"However, the Zapad 2017 exercises ended, the Russian army left the territory of Belarus, and those who frightened us with a Russian threat launched a new series of intimidation attacks," Niedzwiedzki said.

According to him, similar biased reports are needed to increase "domestic mobilization in the country in the name of fighting a fictitious external enemy."

Niedzwiedzki said that regardless of Russia's real actions, "there will always be someone who will allege that something terrible is happening there and that it is aimed against Poland."

"Unfortunately or luckily, the facts do not confirm this as Russia shows a very restrained approach. Simple logic suggests that the increase in military capabilities and tensions on the 'eastern flank' of NATO and Americans' involvement in the process will prompt Russia to ramp up its defense potential," he said.

The Polish Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense signed an agreement on the delivery of Patriot missile defense systems to Warsaw in July 2017 during US President Donald Trump's visit to Poland.

According to the initial deal, the systems should be handed over to Poland by 2022.

The Patriot is a long-range, all-altitude, air defense system capable of countering tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft. As for the Iskander-M, it is a mobile ballistic missile system designed to destroy a wide variety of ground targets at a range of up to 500 kilometers (over 300 miles).

 

[angelburst29]

The Pentagon revealed that Poland is set to purchase up to 150 advanced air-to-air missiles and about two dozen multiple rocket launchers and other high-grade military equipment from US, with a total estimated cost of some $500 million.

State Dept Greenlights $500mln Sale of Missiles, Artillery to Poland
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960908000217

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a branch of the US Department of Defense, in charge of arms sales and military cooperation between the US and its allies, revealed in two news releases on Tuesday, that the US State Department had approved yet another deal with Poland to buy a long list of military equipment from the US.

The purchase, if implemented, will see Poland acquiring up to one 150 AIM-120-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles as well as High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) together with 16 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) M31A1 Unitary and nine Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) M30A1 alternative warheads. The batch will also include 61 surface-to-surface guided missiles as well as navigation and communication devices, training rockets and other service equipment.

The agency argued that the sale of scores of rocket launchers and missiles to Poland “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally,” and enhance the interoperability of the Polish forces with that of their NATO allies.

As to why Poland needs the cutting-edge equipment in such large numbers, the Pentagon says that the items are needed for purely defense purposes, including, to “deter regional threats.”

With that, the DSCA stressed that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

It is the second time in just a month Washington authorizes large-scale military sales to Poland. Earlier, the US State Department approved a sale of four Patriot air and missile defense systems for some $10,5 billion.

NATO’s military build-up close to Russia’s borders, including in Poland and in the Baltics, that has ratcheted up in the recent years, have been repeatedly denounced by Moscow as undermining regional security.

With NATO continuing to beef up anti-missile defenses at Russia’s doorstep, Moscow is being forced to strengthen its own security, and not vice versa, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said in October, noting that in addition to NATO getting closer to Russian borders, the alliance has also stepped up the number of military drills.

“Only in the past three months there have been over 30 drills in East European and Baltic states,” he said.

At the same time, Zapad 2017 military exercises held jointly by Russia and Belarus for six days in September had provoked a fit of hysteria in the West long before they kicked off. The Russian military were accused of downplaying the number of troops participating in the war games, or even planning to use the exercises as smokescreen to launch an invasion into neighboring countries.

Two parallel drills in Poland and Sweden were conducted in response to Zapad 2017, involving a prevailing number of troops from a number of NATO countries. The Polish “national” Dragon 17 wargames alone featured around 17,000 servicemen and 3,500 equipment units, while Zapad 2017 involved some 12,700 troops.

Speaking on the mounting hysteria in July, Russia’s permanent representative to NATO, Aleksandr Grushko, estimated that from July to November NATO was to hold about 15 military drills in the same operative field as Zapad 2017.

 

[angelburst29]

A Polish Air Force MiG-29 fighter plane went down over central Poland on Monday, sparking a short search for the plane and pilot.

Polish Fighter Jet Missing, Search Underway
https://sputniknews.com/military/201712181060112331-polish-fighter-jet-vanishes-search/

Deputy Defense Minister Bartosz Kownacki announced that the plane crashed, but the pilot lived after ejecting himself from the crashing vessel.

"I can reassure you that the pilot successfully ejected. He was found and taken to a hospital," Kownacki said on a televised broadcast.

Reportedly, the crash occurred when the pilot was attempting to land. The pilot's condition is unknown beyond him being alive.

Ten teams of firefighters reportedly searched for the jet near the 23rd Tactical Air Base in Minsk Mazowiecki in central Poland. The crash was ultimately discovered by woodsmen with Polish State Forests.

The Polish Air Force utilizes three types of fighter jets: 31 Russian-made MiG-29s, 32 Soviet Sukhoi Su-22s, and 36 Lockheed Martin F-16s.

 

[Ant22]

EU Commission Proposes Triggering Article 7 Paving Way for Anti-Poland Sanctions: https://sptnkne.ws/gq3c

Warsaw has criticized the move, saying that "it is about politics, not the rule of law."

The European Commission has suggested the EU Council to trigger Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty which could pave the way for sanctions against Poland in order to "protect the rule of law."

According to EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, 13 laws adopted over the past several years by Warsaw have created a situation where the Polish government "can systematically politically interfere with the composition, powers, the administration and the functioning" of judicial authorities.

Poland was quick to react to the announcement, with the Justice Ministry's head saying that the country would continue its legislative reform despite the threat of EU sanctions.

"I accept this decision calmly. It's about politics, not about the rule of law," Zbigniew Ziobro said.

Following the EC decision, Polish President Andrzej Duda has announced that he would sign the controversial law on the reform that has been criticized by Brussels.

"I would like to inform [you] that I made a decision. These were presidential draft laws. I made a decision to sign these laws," he said in a statement.

In its turn, the Polish Foreign Ministry has stated that Warsaw is ready to defend its position in the European top court.

EU Council President and former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, "Poland is perceived today as a disintegrating force in this part of Europe and this is why I believe that it is important to end this devastation […] of Poland's reputation."

The Polish ruling party spokeswoman has also slammed the decision, alleging that possible EU sanctions may be related to the country's refusal to accept Muslim migrants, apparently referring to the Visegrad Four political and cultural alliance's, which also comprises the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, clash with the EC on the issue of refugee quotas over their dissatisfaction with the system and lack of participation.

Previously, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that is set to launch a mechanism for the application of political and economic sanctions by the European Union against Poland for the country's reforms that, according to the bloc, constitute a deviation from democracy and the rule of law. For its part, Warsaw has slammed the move as "an instrument of political pressure upon Poland."

In July, the Polish parliament introduced a set of draft laws to reform the judiciary system. Polish President Andrzej Duda vetoed two of these bills, which concerned the National Council of Judiciary and the Supreme Court, but reintroduced them once amended. Nevertheless, they were criticized by the European Commission since they threatened the principle of the separation of powers.

The third bill, on ordinary courts, was signed by the president. Soon after the publication of the new legislation, the European Commission started an infringement procedure against Poland as the law on ordinary courts violated EU laws regarding judicial independence as well as gender equality, due to different retirement ages for men and women.

The European Commission has sent several letters to the authorities in Warsaw where it set forth its recommendations and stated its readiness to invoke Article 7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would suspend Poland's membership rights in the European Union, such as voting in the Council of Europe.

 

[rogerhin592]

EU Commission Proposes Triggering Article 7 Paving Way for Anti-Poland Sanctions: https://sptnkne.ws/gq3c

I start to believe that the enlargement of the EU in 2004 was a huge mistake. Let's hope this won't lead to "Polend"...

 

[Nienna]

Hi rogerhin592. Since this is your first post, I'd like to recommend to you to introduce yourself on the Newbies Board. It does not need to be anything personal, just a bit on how you found the forum, if you are familiar with Laura Knight-Jadczyks works, etc. If you are unsure of what to write, you can look at how others have introduced themselves. :)

 

[gdpetti]

Poland is getting the Czech, Greek, etc treatment... as anyone not following orders from the center is a direct threat to their control, which is still rather fragile, thus their need to present themselves as 'Strong'... illusionary, but there's not much else they can do but 'huff, and puff' and threaten to blow their 'house' down. Rajoy has tried to do the same in Spain with the recent election in Catalonia... didn't go as planned.. but it also showed the independents what they really knew already.... they don't have as much support for leaving the Spainish state... Rajoy's 'huff and puff' didn't work... and his kind don't like to negotiate from a position of weakness.... and his opposition in Catalonia, the president in Holland (isn't it?) has the same job as before....getting a reality check from the state... same in Poland and most of the Central Euro states....

But it's still on script.... out with the OWO, in with the NWO... so a lot more 'huff and puff' as they simultaneously look to help the States push the global economy and stability off the cliff into complete chaos.... so, in this manner, Poland, Czech, Catalonia et al, are really playing their part in 'outing' the OWO establishment...same here in the States with the fake Dems vs Repubs establishment in-fighting.... puppet show stuff... on both sides of the Atlantic. Poland needs to keep pushing until they given in... Greece didn't have any politicians with enough backbone/balls/courage of their convictions etc... so they just rolled over and followed the orders from Berlin (essentially)... who was really trying to maintain control of the EU while also bailing out their bad German bank loans to the corrupt politicians in Greece.... the usual 'Economic Hitman' routine... which will be the next treatment tried on Poland et al... all of which will help those govts determine their own positions via Russia et al... as Poland is playing that BS game of NATO as well... so the in-fighting seems mostly a jockeying for positions in the pyramid of power... if they are aware of the game....even at the establishment level of the OWO which is being driven into chaos from within.... inviting all those (mostlly) economic migrants et al... another divisive issue between the EU states.

 

[Palinurus]

...the president in Holland (isn't it?)...

Actually, he fled to Brussels in Belgium last October. See these two articles, for instance:

https://www.politico.eu/article/carles-puigdemont-catalonia-has-taken-a-new-political-step-after-election/
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-election-independence-mariano-rajoy-carles-puigdemont-talks-dialogue-reject-a8125486.html

 

[angelburst29]

Małgorzata Maria Gersdorf, the First President of the Supreme Court of Poland, has accused the leading Law and Justice political party of staging a coup against the European nation’s judiciary system.

Top Polish Judge Accuses Leading Political Party of Judiciary Coup
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201712251060294288-polish-judge-coup-open-letter/

Małgorzata Gersdorf, the most supreme judge in Poland, has published an open letter in which she accuses the ruling party of staging a "coup d'etat" by conducting controversial judiciary reform, according a report by BBC.

"A coup d'etat against the structure of one of the most important state institutions is taking place — not with armed force or paramilitary troops — but by the adoption of unconstitutional solutions, which, according to the formula of the famous philosopher Gustav Radbruch, is simply referred to as ‘statutory lawlessness,'"Gersdorf wrote.

According to Gersdorf, Polish President Andrzej Duda's judiciary reform is "walking along the abyss in which an entire nation might fall."

"I warn the government: do not break the social contract written in the form of the constitution," she wrote.

​Earlier in December, she spoke out on judiciary reform in the country.

"I am shattered. This is the end of the Supreme Court," she said, according to an earlier Politico report.

The unpopular reforms, signed into law by Duda, allow politicians to pick members of judiciary council, a body which, in turn, appoints judges.

A second law within the reforms lowers the retirement age for the nation's Supreme Court which would force resignations for almost half of court members.

The moves have caused the EU to initiate disciplinary measures against Poland, giving it three months to reconsider the new laws. Possible sanctions would be imposed if Poland does not comply with EU demands. The EU also called for member states to cast their vote on whether Poland has violated UE rules; such vote will need the backing of 22 out of the 28 member states, BBC reports. If found guilty of EU violations, Poland could be deprived of voting rights at EU summits.

 

[Ant22]

Poland is getting the Czech, Greek, etc treatment... as anyone not following orders from the center is a direct threat to their control, which is still rather fragile, thus their need to present themselves as 'Strong'... illusionary, but there's not much else they can do but 'huff, and puff' and threaten to blow their 'house' down. Rajoy has tried to do the same in Spain with the recent election in Catalonia... didn't go as planned.. but it also showed the independents what they really knew already.... they don't have as much support for leaving the Spainish state... Rajoy's 'huff and puff' didn't work... and his kind don't like to negotiate from a position of weakness.... and his opposition in Catalonia, the president in Holland (isn't it?) has the same job as before....getting a reality check from the state... same in Poland and most of the Central Euro states....

But it's still on script.... out with the OWO, in with the NWO... so a lot more 'huff and puff' as they simultaneously look to help the States push the global economy and stability off the cliff into complete chaos.... so, in this manner, Poland, Czech, Catalonia et al, are really playing their part in 'outing' the OWO establishment...same here in the States with the fake Dems vs Repubs establishment in-fighting.... puppet show stuff... on both sides of the Atlantic. Poland needs to keep pushing until they given in... Greece didn't have any politicians with enough backbone/balls/courage of their convictions etc... so they just rolled over and followed the orders from Berlin (essentially)... who was really trying to maintain control of the EU while also bailing out their bad German bank loans to the corrupt politicians in Greece.... the usual 'Economic Hitman' routine... which will be the next treatment tried on Poland et al... all of which will help those govts determine their own positions via Russia et al... as Poland is playing that BS game of NATO as well... so the in-fighting seems mostly a jockeying for positions in the pyramid of power... if they are aware of the game....even at the establishment level of the OWO which is being driven into chaos from within.... inviting all those (mostlly) economic migrants et al... another divisive issue between the EU states.

I agree that the EU is trying to force Poland (and other Eastern European countries) to get back in line. But my worry is that Poland is not economically or politically strong enough to stand on its own. Its relationships with its closest neighbours are poor, especially Russia who has proven to have the ability to continue to grow despite the sanctions.

As you pointed out, and as has been mentioned earlier in this thread, the only country Poland does seek close ties with is the US, and by extension NATO. But Poland's relationships with those two are military ones. There are aspects of the country's political decisions that I do of course agree with but I really don't see how military relationships can help the economy. Especially that it's not an equal partnership in any way: the installation of the missile shields smells of Poland lending its territory for the US to play its silly games against Russia. It kind of makes me think of psychopaths using others as pawns in their manipulation games.

 

[Esprit]

I agree that the EU is trying to force Poland (and other Eastern European countries) to get back in line. But my worry is that Poland is not economically or politically strong enough to stand on its own. Its relationships with its closest neighbours are poor, especially Russia who has proven to have the ability to continue to grow despite the sanctions.

As you pointed out, and as has been mentioned earlier in this thread, the only country Poland does seek close ties with is the US, and by extension NATO. But Poland's relationships with those two are military ones. There are aspects of the country's political decisions that I do of course agree with but I really don't see how military relationships can help the economy. Especially that it's not an equal partnership in any way: the installation of the missile shields smells of Poland lending its territory for the US to play its silly games against Russia. It kind of makes me think of psychopaths using others as pawns in their manipulation games.

The way I see it, military relationship helps the economy rebuild itself by force. When everything crumbles down, steal and occupy land until you can put in place a new system. Also a strategic point for US who profits on the occasion to expand it's takeover on Eurasia. Probably leaving crumbs to Poland lowerclass in the process, as long as the ruling class gets it's power and money fix. This alone, could explain why Poland is willing to pay extra for energy, covering it up as good anti-Russia move but in reality a pro US one, as long as some very few on top get what they want, who cares about global economy and population situation, typical psychopathic behavior I think this is.

 

[angelburst29]

Rex Tillerson gave up his top CEO position in Exxon/Mobile, when he accepted the position of U.S. Secretary of State. I have been keeping track of Tillerson's activities and it's my opinion, he's been using his Political position as SoS, especially in the oil and gas sectors "for future benefit" - for the time when he is no long SoS and inserts himself back in the oil and gas industry. Tillerson was behind the additional sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro when Russia stepped in to help Venezuela launch a Cryptocurrency, the Petro, to be backed by Oil Reserves .Now, Tillerson is in Poland.

WARSAW, Poland -- The United States and Poland on Saturday took a strong stand against a planned gas pipeline linking Russia to Germany, saying it is part of a Kremlin scheme to politicize energy and undermine attempts to make Europe less dependent on Moscow.

US, Poland Oppose Gas Pipeline Linking Russia to Germany 28 Jan 2018
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/01/28/us-poland-oppose-gas-pipeline-linking-russia-germany.html

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Polish Foreign Minister Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, after meeting in Warsaw, denounced the pipeline, which would bypass Poland and leave Central Europe vulnerable to Russian pressure.

Tillerson said the pipeline was "not a healthy piece of infrastructure" for Europe's energy stability.

"Like Poland, the United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline," Tillerson said at a news conference with his counterpart. "We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy security and stability and providing Russia yet another tool to politicize energy as a political tool."

The pipeline would be the second to carry Russian gas directly to Germany and Western Europe via the Baltic Sea instead of through Poland and Ukraine.

The U.S. has for years tried to wean its friends and allies in Europe from their dependence on Russian natural gas, which Moscow is accused of using as leverage in disputes with Ukraine and other countries.

Poland is wary of Russian intentions with the pipeline and "we share the view that it is necessary to diversify energy supplies into Europe," Czaputowicz said.

Poland began importing liquid natural gas from the U.S. last year. Tillerson encouraged further sales and spoke in favor of a pipeline that would run from Poland to Norway.

In addition to energy security, the diplomats pledged to boost military cooperation. Poland, Czaputowicz said, would like to see the U.S. enhance its military presence in the country.

"The stationing of American troops on our territory gives us, the Poles, a sense of security and we are grateful for that," he said. "We want this presence to be even bigger and we want it to be permanent."

The Poland-U.S. security relationship received a boost last year with the deployment of some 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland as part of two separate American and NATO missions. The deployments were intended reassure allies on NATO's eastern flank that the alliance was serious about protecting them from Russian aggression.

I bet - the U.S. media won't cover this?

A French vessel carrying Russian liquefied natural gas docked in Boston on Sunday, while Another tanker is reportedly on its way, despite Washington’s sanctions against Moscow and amid grand plans of conquering Europe’s gas market.

Sanctions Anyone? US Receives Russian LNG Shipment, 2nd Tanker Reported on Its Way Mon Jan 29, 2018
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961109001262

The tanker named Gaselys, owned by French energy company Engie, arrived in Boston on Sunday morning, the US Coast Guard confirmed to Sputnik, RT reported.

“As far as I know, there are no problems,” a Spokesman said. The vessel is loaded with gas originating from Russia’s Yamal LNG plant at the British port of Isle of Grain from which it headed to Everett, an American terminal near Boston.

The US sanctions, imposed in particular against Russia’s largest non-state gas producer Novatek – which happens to be Yamal LNG’s main shareholder – do not seem to be hindering business in this case. France’s Total, China National Petroleum Corporation and the Silk Road Fund hold the remaining 49.9 percent of shares in the project, located in the Russian Arctic.

Technically, the cargo is not subject to sanctions imposed by the US on key stakeholders in the Russian energy sector since the gas was bought by the French company and delivered on a French vessel. (Convenient Loophole?)

The delivery was however bogged down with delays, arriving eight days late due to unfavorable sailing conditions. A day before its scheduled arrival on January 20, the tanker briefly turned East towards the Spanish port of Algeciras, sparking speculations of a last-minute route change.

However, a Spokesman for Engie explained the deviation from the original route was caused by bad weather, noting that the delivery time will be adjusted.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a second tanker named Provalys will deliver another shipment of Russian gas from the French port of Dunkirk to New England. The tanker is due to arrive on February 15, according to Bloomberg.

Washington has long been eyeing the lucrative European energy market, offering its shale LNG as an alternative to Russian natural gas supplies through pipelines, and persuading its allies that Europe’s future depends on it.

Moscow in turn has been accusing Washington of stamping out competition by strangling major Russian energy projects with sanctions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in January that the US “clearly forced [the] Europeans to abandon Nord Stream 2,” a pipeline that would provide Germany with cheaper Russian gas.

“The United States opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe’s overall energy security and stability,” US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reiterated on a visit to Poland on Saturday.

Tillerson’s statement reflects US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and makes perfect sense “in the context of the US sanctions against Russia,” Matthias Dornfeldt, a German expert on energy issues, told RT.

“The pure interest of the US is to sell their gas in order to bring up its own gas industry with a lot of employment,” Dornfeldt said, adding that “That is why they try to play it in some kind of political way, but it is in the economic interests of the US.”

“We already reached energy security,” the German energy expert stated, arguing that Europeans have many options for where to buy their gas, including Norway, Algeria and other OPEC and Central Asian countries.

“It is only the question: Who has the biggest share in the market?,” the expert added.

In the meantime the US doesn’t mind undermining its own energy security, since business is business, and the severe cold snap that hit the US East Coast caused demand to soar and drove gas prices to a staggering $6,300 per a thousand cubic meters, making foreign gas deliveries a feasible option.

 

[angelburst29]

On January 26, Poland passed legislation, banning speculation on the nation’s complicity in crimes against humanity committed by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Israel Summons Polish Diplomat Over Holocaust Bill 28.01.2018
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801281061137936-israel-poland-diplomat-holocaust-bill/

Two days after the bill was adopted, Israel summoned Piotr Kozlowski, the charge d’affaire for Poland’s embassy, for clarification.

"Israel's opposition to the wording of the bill was expressed to him. The timing of the bill – the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day – was particularly surprising and unfortunate," Israel’s foreign ministry said, adding that "the legislation will not help further the exposure of historical truth and may harm freedom of research, as well as prevent discussion of the historical message and legacy of World War II".

The bill, adopted by Poland’s rightwing-dominated parliament, set a maximum three-year jail term for anyone who blamed the Nazi atrocities on Poles, or referred to Nazi German concentration camps as being Polish.

On January 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Warsaw of seeking to distort facts and deny history.

"We have no tolerance for the distortion of the truth and rewriting history or denying the Holocaust," he said.

The bill must pass the Senate before being signed by the president, but Netanyahu made it clear that “that it must be changed.”

Polish officials, including the country’s Prime Minsiter Mateusz Morawiecki, have repeatedly requested corrections when media refer to Nazi death camps as Polish, such as Auschwitz.

Mateusz Morawiecki @MorawieckiM

Auschwitz is the most bitter lesson on how evil ideologies can lead to hell on earth. Jews, Poles, and all victims should be guardians of the memory of all who were murdered by German Nazis. Auschwitz-Birkenau is not a Polish name, and Arbeit Macht Frei is not a Polish phrase. 3:49 PM - Jan 27, 2018

The new Polish legislation, which still needs the approval of the president to become a law, forbids any mention of participation of the Polish nation in crimes committed by Nazis during the Holocaust, particularly the use of phrases like "Polish death camps," where millions of people were slaughtered.

Polish Senate Passes Controversial Holocaust Bill That Prompted Israeli Backlash 01.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201802011061247759-poland-bill-holocaust-senate-controversy/

Earlier, Polish Jews have urged Poland’s upper parliamentary chamber in an open letter to reject the bill that criminalizes attempts to impose blame on Polish individuals for aiding Nazi Germany during World War II, including mass killing of Jews. The bill has already been condemned by the Israeli leadership, which accused authors of the legislation of attempting to change the historical truth.

“We appeal to the parliamentarians with a request to reject changes to the law on the Institute of National Remembrance … Adoption of amendments in the proposed form can lead to punishment for the truth about the Polish szmalcowniks and those Polish citizens who killed their Jewish neighbors,” the open letter, obtained by Sputnik and signed by over 100 Polish Jews, read.

Szmalcowniks were individuals who extorted money from Jews and from Poles who sheltered them during the German occupation.

The letter's author said that the term "Polish death camps" is in fact incorrect, but the use of this term does not automatically accuse the Poles of a crime and instead is just a geographic reference.

“Inaccurate geographical terms should not be a reason for imposing monetary fines, let alone imprisonment as stipulated in the bill,” the letter says. The adoption of the bill will also open the possibility for rewriting history and will limit the freedom of expression, according to the document.

However, The Polish upper house passed a controversial bill on Thursday 57-23 without amendments.

The bill prescribes up to three years in prison for attempts to link the Polish people with Nazi crimes. The bill also bans denial of the murder of about 100,000 Poles by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during World War II.

The US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said before the bill was passed that it could have repercussions for freedom of speech and Poland’s ties with Washington and Tel Aviv. Israel’s Holocaust Center Yad Vashem released a statement, saying the motion aimed to hide historical truth.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki on launching talks concerning the new Polish bill, Netanyahu’s office said on Monday. The Polish Institute of National Remembrance called Israel’s interference in the situation around the bill, before it had even become a law, inappropriate. The Polish think-tank claims the new legislation does not limit scientific research and the freedom of speech, but tackles deliberate distortion of history.

The controversial Holocaust bill will now go to the Polish resident’s desk for signature.

Earlier in the week, Poland's Senate approved the bill criminalizing any accusations against Poland of complicity in war crimes during World War II, including the Holocaust, prompting Israeli backlash.

Israel Urges Poland to Postpone Security Chief's Visit Amid Holocaust Tensions
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802021061294375-israel-poland-holocaust-tensions-security-chief/

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has called on Poland to postpone the visit by its National Security Bureau chief Pawel Soloch amid tensions over Warsaw's Holocaust bill, Haaretz reported.

The Polish official was due to arrive in Israel next week, however, Tel Aviv expects a "symbolic delay" of several weeks. In particular, Soloch was due to visit a national memorial commemorating Holocaust victims.

In their turn, Polish officials have voiced hope that "dialogue on security issues of strategic importance for both countries will continue in the near future."

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) media freedom representative Harlem Desir expressed Thursday his concern over the new Polish law which criminalizes statements accusing Poles of complicity in the Holocaust, calling the legislation a violation of the freedom of expression.

Polish Law on World War II Crimes Violates Freedom of Expression – OSCE
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201802011061273698-polish-law-ww2-crimes-osce/

The law in question was passed by the Polish Senate in a 57-23 vote, with two abstentions. Apart from criminalizing the notion of Poland's complicity in World War II crimes, the legislation criminalizes denials of the killings of Poles by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in that period and outlaws Ukrainian nationalist ideology. The law is now pending the signature of Polish President Andrzej Duda.

I have serious concerns about the law, which criminalizes speech in historical matters … Though we all know the sensitivities around historical events, freedom of expression is of particular importance for historians and academics. History is a matter of independent academic research and of free discussion, not a judiciary decision. The law should be rejected as a disproportionate restriction of the freedom of expression. Only when statements constitute incitement to violence or discrimination could they be criminalized," Desir said, as quoted by the OSCE statement.

The OSCE representative called on Duda to abstain from enacting the bill. "I hope that to protect freedom of expression the law will be vetoed by the president," Desir added.

Earlier in the day, the Polish Foreign Ministry refuted the United States' and Israel's accusations that the new legislation limited the freedom of expression and restricted historical debates.