[UPDATE] Eric Cantor Dreads an Iranian Attack on Poland

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Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Rep. Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) spokesman Brad Dayspring has responded to Vice President Joe Biden’s remark that he’s “less concerned” about a long-term threat from Iranian missiles.

Allies including Poland, the Czech Republic and Israel stand on the front line of an Iranian missile threat and should never doubt the United States’ commitment to their security.

Poland?

Update: Dayspring responded to me and sent out a follow-up press release on this, citing President Obama’s April 2009 speech in Prague where he set the goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activity poses a real threat, not just to the United States, but to Iran’s neighbors and our allies. The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defense against these missiles. As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven.

That’s the source for this criticism.

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Comments

7 Comments

The Washington Independent » [UPDATE] Eric Cantor Dreads an … | Iran Today
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Jeremey LeBlanc
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 5:00 pm

I am attempting to figure out “what” brought about the change. If we could ever get anyone to tell us the truth in these matters it would be very healthy.

My first impression for the change was to “placate” the Russians .. of course, I can't verify that, but, it is my feeling.

As for either Russia or Iran attacking Poland. Ha, we didn't think that either when the Second World War started. Oh, yes, I know different people different time .. .human nature doesn't change too much; power is power as we can readily see in our own domestic chaos .. more I am surprised that Robert Gates went along with the change.

Although, I have been told he “is not a shield guy”. That's an Aggie for you!

But more scary is when Joe Biden says it is a “less concern”.

So, on the face of it, I think Mr. Putin said: Checkmate.


Dan
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 6:14 pm

In terms of risk from Iran it was always nonsese.

in terms of risk from Russia it is nonsese now but Poland has reason to worry that it will not remain that way in the future, but Poland has got it way wrong before.

1938-9 Poland is in a terrible position between an Evil dictator called Hitler and an evil dictator called Stalin. It needed to do some kind of deal with one of them to fend off the other. It tried to play both of against the other and lost big time.

In 38 Russia offered to help protect Czchoslovakia if Poland would allow Red Army to cross Polish soil, it was told bluntly no and in the end Poland grabbed some Czech territory as Germany invaded.

In 39 Britain, France and Russia were trying to form a military alliance against Hitler the deal was never done as Poland refused to agree to accept Russian support, in the Hitler and Stalin do a deal instead and Poland is wiped off the map.

the problem of the announcement TODAY is the Russian invasion of Poland to meet the German troops was 17th September 1939.


strangely_enough
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 6:35 pm

“…[A] missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven.”

Oxymoron?

If Lieberman, Boehner, and Cantor are complaining, that's almost a given that it would be ridiculously ineffective, overpriced, and unnecessarily antagonistic. And, they're probably benefiting financially somehow.


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Milwaukee Progressive Examiner
Comment posted September 18, 2009 @ 4:35 pm

I am to understand that we should feel worried about Poland and the Czech republic being threatened by Iran? Has the right gone nuts? Should we worry about Honduras being threatened from Iran?


arnold77
Comment posted September 19, 2009 @ 6:39 am

Dan – you need to read up a little bit on history, either that or you need to stop reading “History According to Vladimir Putin”. First, Poland was not trying to “play” one off the other, but tried to navigate the situation with Allied help. Second, we saw what Russian “liberation” actually means three years later – with the full benefit of hindsight your implied criticism of Poland's refusal to allow the Russians to enter Poland lacks a lot of thought and reflection. While Poland had maintained a land dispute over the territories they seized for decades (rather than just grabbing land wholesale like the Germans), it was indeed an ill conceived decision. Lastly the Russians were always negotiating in bad faith, including in 1939 before the outbreak of war – you should pick up Churchill's memoirs rather than watching so much Russian TV.


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