Bethesda, Maryland (PMN)–After a meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated, "The United States takes its obligation to Poland as exactly as it is stated in Article V [of the NATO Treaty], that an attack upon one is an attack upon all. There is no more solemn obligation … and so this is not an empty commitment."

In a press release issued on February 6, 2008, the Federation of Polish Americans (FPA) stated, "As Polish Americans, we are encouraged that the United States supports Poland’s desire for defense modernization. As Secretary Rice further stated, ‘The United States very much supports the modernization of the forces of the alliance. We understand that there is a desire for defense modernization in Poland, and particularly for air defense modernization in Poland. This is something that we support because it will make our ally, Poland, more capable. It will make Poland, as the Foreign Minister has said, more able to operate with us.’"

The FPA release continued, "Since Poland is a member of NATO, any of Poland’s cities must have the same forward defense guarantee—or corresponding capabilities—as that accorded to, for example, Berlin, Germany."

Contrary to the opinion of a majority of Poles, the group expressed the hope that the Polish government will agree to host the Defense Missile Shield, which it says will increase the security of the U.S. and Western Europe. The FPA urged the Bush Administration to increase military assistance to modernize Poland’s armed forces and finalize the defense missile shield plan to ensure its implementation starting this year.

The release also stated, "Polish Americans look toward our government to leverage Poland’s air defense system to European standards. To date there has been no decision on a final agreement and there is concern in the Polish community that further delay may not contribute to regional stability."

The FPA indicates it is a non-partisan organization. It has consistently courted the Bush Administration and apparently accepted its promises, including those regarding visa waivers. There has been no comment from FPA, however, regarding the fact that none of the promises have been fulfilled.

Richard H. Kosinski of New Britain, Connecticut, is FPA President, and Roman Korzan of Bethesda, Maryland, serves as FPA Media Officer.