Bush to Seek $100 Million in Military Aid for His Polish Ally

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 - President Bush told President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland on Wednesday that he would ask Congress for $100 million to modernize the Polish military, part of a program of support for a new NATO ally that has more than 2,000 soldiers in Iraq.

In an interview shortly after his meeting with Mr. Bush, the Polish president said he had no intention of withdrawing Poland's troops from Iraq this year, unless the new government asked them to leave. "I'm almost sure that if it will be necessary, they will be there," said Mr. Kwasniewski, who has been under pressure at home to bring the troops back. "The question is how to organize it."

That indication of support is critical to Mr. Bush, who is struggling to maintain a broad international presence in Iraq, where the United States and to a lesser extent Britain have provided the great majority of the troops.

(snip)

In the interview, Mr. Kwasniewski, who leaves office in December, also said he had advised Mr. Bush not to act unilaterally against Iran in the current standoff over its nuclear program.

"My advice was simple," he said, sipping tea in Blair House, across the street from the White House, after his lunch with Mr. Bush. "I am absolutely against taking action by one side only. I said this," he said, and Mr. Bush, he said, seemed to agree.

(snip)

Mr. Kwasniewski said the money was not a quid pro quo for Poland's troop presence in Iraq. But clearly, returning home with financial commitments from Mr. Bush will help him in a parliamentary debate about how long to remain in Iraq, at a time when opinion polls show that a clear majority of Poles want an end to the troops presence.

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/politics/10prexy.html?

[liveoaktx]

1. B*****R******I******B*******E

[GetTheRightVote]

2. Ditto on the Bribe, a deal is in the works any day now it could happen

:kick:

[SodoffBush]

3. Poland needs its roads repaired, among other things not military aid

[Delphinus]

21. How many things do we need here,

that have been cut in his budget, that won't happen because Poland needs $100,000,000?

[flyarm]

4. tell * to get it from cheney and hailiburton for ...

services not rendered...the crooks!

fly

[forintegrity]

5. So let's give our money to another country while our

own veteran's benefits are being cut!

Makes sense to me!:puke:

[Erika]

6. My thoughts exactly

A co-worker is very upset with Bush's proposed cuts to veterans and upping their cost of prescriptions. It will have a dismal affect on her and her veteran husband.

[pdurod1]

7. This means Social Security IS'NT BROKE

[zann725]

14. Of course it's NOT broke. This country is.

It's an absolute nightmare. And getting worse every day.

[bumblebee1]

8. Where the bloody hell does Bush think this country is made of?

Money. Where the hell will the 10 mil come from? We can barely take care of our own nation's needs.

[Erika]

9. It is 100 mil not 10

But then he's giving the Palistineans 45 mil and we ship over to Isreal about 3 Billion a year. So you know, it's all relative.

So we don't have decent infrastructure, education, health care, or programs for our needy.

But corporatism is being fed and is happy. Never forget that Bush could care less about this country. He is in pursuit of the Corporate king of the world title. That's where he and his ancestors got their money from and where they owe their allegiance. And who they are paying back.

[bling bling]

10. I was wondering why he suddenly pledged more $ for tsunami aid.

I had a suspician that he was trying to pre-emptively avoid criticism for something.

[Erika]

11. Bush should entertain a novel idea

Spending our taxes here to take care of our own.

[bling bling]

12. Or, at the very least...

spend our taxes helping starving and sick people around the world with food and medicine rather than "modernizing" Polands military. But then again, I'm not a Republican so what do I know about moral or religious values.

[Erika]

13. Beautiful reply received with a smile

[zann725]

15. No. Take care of our own first! We've got plenty of starving & sick HERE

whose needs are EVERY BIT as important as those in another country. And since it is OUR U.S. tax dollars being talked about, shouldn't our OWN citizens be given aid FIRST?!!!

[bling bling]

16. That's why I said "at the very least...." n/t

[LynnTheDem]

17. HEATING subsidy for US poor; CUT. VETERANS' BENEFITS; CUT.

48 EDUCATION grants; CUT.

Almost TEN THOUSAND BORDER COPS; CUT.

But bush wants $100 MILLION. For POLAND.

[applegrove]

18. Then the US will own that army. Great way to avoid a draft!!

The US will then own the Polish army. You cannot be trained by US folk and funded by them and then say "no". And Poles are having a hard time with their economy and all. Many young men desperate for work. I bet you they do not get paid the same fabulous vages our soldiers get.

Outsourcing the draft!! How could Americans have any problem with 'new wars' then?

[salin]

19. lol - a win win for bush, again... give $ used to buy costly stuff

from American military industrial complex. Last "military aid" (announced less than a week before Poland committed to the coalition of the "willingly bribed") was a "loan" specifically to buy Helicopters from, I believe, Lockheed Martin.

[hadrons]

20. well Repuke farmer, here's where that subsidy cut is going to ....