(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Polish citizens are rejecting a plan developed by the United States to implement part of its anti-missile shield in Poland, according to a poll by CBOS. 61 per cent of respondents are opposed their country’s participation in the project, up five points since August.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – More Polish citizens are rejecting a plan developed by the United States to implement part of its anti-missile shield in Poland, according to a poll by CBOS. 61 per cent of respondents are opposed their country’s participation in the project, up five points since August.
In December 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush announced plans for the development of initial defence capabilities, which include ground-based and sea-based missile interceptors, as well as sensors located in space. Washington has explained the project as a means to defend the U.S. and its European allies from a potential attack by Iran or North Korea.
In January, the U.S. issued a formal request to place a missile defence radar base in the Czech Republic—in a military area southwest of Prague—as well as 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. The plan has sparked an angry reaction from the Russian government, which sees it as a threat to its own national security.
Earlier this year, Polish prime minister Lech Kaczynski of the Law and Justice Party (PiS) backed Poland’s participation in the defence plan, of which details are still under negotiation. In October, the opposition Civic Platform (PO) won Poland’s legislative election. PO leader Donald Tusk was sworn in as Poland’s new prime minister on Nov. 16.
On Nov. 27, Tusk offered to discuss the anti-missile project with Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) before making a final decision on Poland’s participation. Tusk vowed to talk to American delegates "after a series of consultations with NATO and some of our neighbours."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose the deployment of an anti-missile shield in Poland?
|
Nov. 2007 |
Aug. 2007 |
Jul. 2007 |
|
|
Support |
24% |
28% |
28% |
|
Oppose |
61% |
56% |
55% |
|
Not sure |
15% |
16% |
17% |
Source: CBOS
Methodology: Interviews with 863 Polish adults, conducted from Nov. 10 to Nov. 15, 2007. Margin of error is 4 per cent.
