On Thursday, FNC viewers got to learn of a little known diplomatic faux pas on the part of President Obama, as the administration announced on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland that America would back out of the plan for a missile defense shield previously worked out with Polish President Lech Kaczynski. On Special Report with Bret Baier, host Baier showed an interview with the Polish president who did not seem happy with President Obama’s foreign policy decisions.
Kaczynski signaled his belief that the deal he had worked on with the Bush administration was important to his country:
I thought that the August 2008 deal, I considered that to be a success. I worked very hard to bring about the deal, to make it successful. I would like to be honest with you, and I will just say that I did everything I could to just finalize the deal. I cannot say I was happy. It was a very important deal for us.
Baier then brought up the bad timing of the Obama administration’s announcement:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓BRET BAIER: The announcement came on the day which was the 70th anniversary of Russia invading Poland.
LECH KACZYNSKI: I don't think it was done intentionally. I excluded such a possibility, but it was an unfortunate coincidence, yes.
Below is a complete transcript of the interview with Polish President Lech Kaczynski from the Thursday, September 24, Special Report with Bret Baier on FNC:
BRET BAIER: Poland has been a strong ally to the U.S., contributing 15,000 troops to the Iraq war over the past five years, and with 2,000 more soldiers currently in Afghanistan. Today, I spoke with Polish President Lech Kaczynski about how he felt when he learned of the U.S. decision to reverse course on last year's plans for a European missile shield.
LECH KACZYNSKI, POLISH PRESIDENT, THROUGH TRANSLATOR: I thought that the August 2008 deal, I considered that to be a success. I worked very hard to bring about the deal, to make it successful. I would like to be honest with you, and I will just say that I did everything I could to just finalize the deal. I cannot say I was happy. It was a very important deal for us.
BAIER: The announcement came on a day which was the 70th anniversary of Russia invading Poland.
KACZYNSKI: I don't think it was done intentionally. I excluded such a possibility, but it was an unfortunate coincidence, yes.
BAIER: Is there a new deal for shorter-range missiles to be located inside Poland?
KACZYNSKI: Well, the details have been not worked out yet. I hope it will be, but what is important in politics is timing. There is a certain difference between the policy of the previous government and the current government with regard to the missile shield. The previous government has no doubt whatsoever if the ratification process would be started in Congress. Then today, we would have begun a different situation.
BAIER: Do you think Russia was emboldened by this decision?
KACZYNSKI: Russia is always bold, but if it's encouraged, then it becomes even bolder.
BAIER: Do you think there was a quid pro quo between the missile shield not being put in and Russia signing off on sanctions?
KACZYNSKI: I think this is a broader problem. I think that one believes if Russia will become a constructive factor in the region of the world.. I would very much wish it to be so, but being a politician, I have to ask this question: What is Russia's interest in this? If someone shows me that it does have, I am not infallible. I would believe, but I don't see it. You can say everything about the Russians, but one thing is certain about them, they have a great literature and have great politics. They can do that well.
BAIER: Are you as a leader of Poland concerned about Russia?
KACZYNSKI: I'm not concerned about the Russian army entering Polish territory, at least in the foreseeable future. But the time will not pass. There are gas weapons, there's oil. There are many other instruments that are being used in a very soft way, a subtle way. And that's what I'm concerned about.
BAIER: The Obama administration says it wants to reset its relationship with Russia. Are you worried about this reset and how it will affect your country?
KACZYNSKI: The United States, you have a right to conduct your own policy, and there’s nothing I can say about this, and I cannot question it. But the United States, like any other country in the world, can be right or can be wrong.
BAIER: Is it wrong?
KACZYNSKI: So far, we don't know it yet. Russia can play a big constructive role in the world because it is a big country. But, however, the development in Russia at the moment does not give any indication that this is how it will continue, that this will be so.
BAIER: Thank you to the Polish president for that interview today.
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




BRET BAIER: Poland has been a strong ally to the U.S., contributing 15,000 troops to the Iraq war over the past five years, and with 2,000 more soldiers currently in Afghanistan. Today, I spoke with Polish President Lech Kaczynski about how he felt when he learned of the U.S. decision to reverse course on last year's plans for a European missile shield.















Editor at Large
Comments Policy
It was done intentionally on 70th annversary
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 06:14 ET by ekslibObama is a sociopath, who enjoys toying with the emotions of people who love freedom.
He says things that make decent people angry or make them insecure, which increases his power.
I don’t believe it was
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 08:12 ET by FlashmanI don’t believe it was done intentionally on that date but once again it highlights the ineptitude of Obama’s foreign policy. Poland has been a good ally to the US and should be treated as such.
Chocolate in my peanut
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 21:53 ET by stratmanChocolate in my peanut butter. Peanut butter in my chocolate
This Obama Admin. diplomatic snafu is not good either way - the message it sends, intentionally or not, is bad.
Eastern and Western Europeans have long memories.
Poland...
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 06:11 ET by FuzzlenutterAnother friend of the US under Obama's ever-growing giant bus...
Fuzzlenutter
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 10:12 ET by ahusserTook the words right off my keyboard.
Just business as usual with the runocrats in general and Obama in particular. Other than outright greed why would any country in their right collective minds want to be allied with us the U.S. Especially when there alway is a possibility of a dem administration which specializes in turning their backs on, and running away from said allies. The dem motto: "When the going gets tough we runaway"
"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'
Seems like being a friend of
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 20:06 ET by Dan The Man 2Seems like being a friend of Obama means making sacrifices, hmmm sorta like a FOB.
Grin and bear it, buddy.
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 06:40 ET by BKeyserClearly this guy does not understand the inestimable power of Barack's charm... Why will Russia capitulate to US interests? Because of the smile stupid! That implausibly homogeneous smile!
Isn't It Wonderful?
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 06:46 ET by GeneralAlIsn't it wonderful how the Tele-Prez Messiah is winning back all our prestige in the world by stabbing our allies in the back? I mean we kick Taiwan to the curb for Red China, Poland for Russia, Israel for Iran, Honduras for Venezuella, We leave Afghanistan to go to Copenhagen, and the list goes on. To paraphase the late Peter Jennings, "Where is President Obama?" Oh yea, hes trying to get the Olympics for Chicago!
Yep, the "Liar-in-Chief" obama ...
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 08:38 ET by SentryDanYep, the "Liar-in-Chief" obama has thrown another country with strong ties to the US under the bus. How many Poles immigrated to the US over the years?
obama is a dishonest, dishonorable man. obama is dumber than a rock. he doesn't have the skills to be president. he was elected (or the job was bought for him) POTUS, yet he continues to be on the campaign trail. When the hell is he going to do the job he is being pay for? Oh, that's right, he is on the government dole; getting money for not working. As the man said, "Only in America!"
Remember folks, Freedom isn't Free. It was bought with the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who are serving and who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know.
Also remember folks, that the way to SUPPORT THE TROOPS is to support their mission. Anyone who says that they support the troops but don't support their mission is lying about supporting the troops. And if you want to know, yes I do have a dog in the fight, he is a United States Marine.
A rerun of history
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:58 ET by slickwillie2001Poland is a big lesson for American allies everywhere. What do you think the reaction in Japan might have been to the Polish outrage? Japan has relied for decades on the American 'nuclear umbrella'. Does that have a gram of credibility under the pusillanimous Bamster? If I was running Japan I would have a crash nuclear bomb program in the works. Anything else would be an irresponsible dereliction of duty.
The countries in the former Warsaw Pact that joined NATO also have to be wondering what the point was. There were always doubts that Brussels would go to war to protect Belgrade, but American resolve tipped the scale. Now, not so much. Eastern Europe made a strategic blunder by trying to bind themselves to the West. They should have formed their own Eastern-'NATO' and retained in-country Soviet nuclear weapons. What country will the Bamster trade to the Russians next?
Looks like the rest of teh
Thu, 10/01/2009 - 20:08 ET by Dan The Man 2Looks like the rest of teh countries under the USA umbrealla will look and see the holes in the fabric.