Wow: Polish PM "treatment from Israel" better than U.S.

Just for starters, this is about supplying soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and not about the correctness or futility of this war, and this isn't a pro or anti Israel thread, nor is it an overall comment on whether the U.S. should be hugely concerned with Polish issues. To me, the point is the reality behind George Bush's rhetoric and actions. This is a fascinating story when you consider the build-up behind the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's remarks as reported by Haaretz in a story entitled "Brothers in Arms".

Poland was and is very pro-U.S., and I think their support for the Iraq War was based on this sentiment, and I think they honestly believed they were doing their part.

However, this is a story in part about how the U.S. treats its friends. Poles still have to get visas to enter the country, which to me doesn't make any sense. Obviously, the U.S. has huge problems in supplying its own troops, but when Poland needed help, it got it from Israel. "It is doing this despite the difficulties Poland encountered with its requests from the United States for assistance and cooperation on the offset agreements."

This speaks as well to Bush's inability to even keep our friends happy, not to mention even approaching neutrals.

What do you do when an ally puts out a distress call? Apparently let someone else pick up the request:

In another case, Rafael [Israeli Armaments Development Authority] rushed to respond to a distress call from the Polish army, whose forces serve in the international coalition in Afghanistan. The Polish battalion found that its armored vehicles were not sufficiently reinforced to protect against rocket fire and mine explosions, and that without this protection the battalion was likely to incur heavy losses.

In an urgent appeal to Israel, Poland asked that its vehicles be reinforced with thicker and more durable armor. Rafael quickly responded, and in a deal valued at several million dollars, reinforced some 30 vehicles of the Polish battalion. Polish officers reported to their colleagues in Israel that even though several vehicles were hit in incidents in Afghanistan, the armor and special protective coating saved the soldiers' lives.

Now one can argue that this is small-scale stuff, but it's a fascinating vignette on what can be accomplished. And I wouldn't be surprised if the New European countries continue to ask what they should do for Washington since Washington can't do for them.