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Poles Reject Role in U.S. Missile Shield
- Many adults in Poland are against the construction of an anti-missile site in their country, according to a poll by GFK published in Rzeczpospolita. 63 per cent of respondents oppose joining the United States anti-missile shield.
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.
In 2004, the U.S. approached the governments of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary as possible partners in the missile defence system. In June, Polish defence minister Stanislaw Koziej said no decision has been taken, adding, "We're not absolutely forced to accept this offer if we judge that it's not advantageous for us. We don't have to have this installation on our territory if it doesn't clearly serve to increase our security."
Poland currently has 1,500 soldiers in central Iraq, as part of a multinational force of about 4,700 troops. In March 2004, then-president Aleksander Kwasniewski said Poland was "misled" into the coalition effort, but added that Iraq today "is a much better place than Iraq with Saddam Hussein."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose Poland joining the U.S. anti-missile shield?
Support | 23% |
Oppose | 63% |
No opinion | 14% |
Source: GFK / Rzeczpospolita
Methodology: Interviews to 983 Polish adults, conducted from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.