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wn1001's avatar

It’s quite astonishing to be lectured by the 3rd world country whose population lives from weekly payroll to payroll in trailers or paper-wood houses with no medical insurance eating junk food. Yes, you have your guns, carriers etc. And that’s about it. Last year I came to the US, to see your beautiful heritage in Phliladelphia, Detroit, New Orleans etc. and I could only gasp in utter amazement at massive underinvestment in your rotten infrastructure, garbage everywhere, fat people. So yeah, become isolationists again, don’t export your crappy teslas or cornflakes to us. We don’t need you here. Comparing what we in Poland have achieved after 1989 with what you have done to your country and your people make me feel being The Pole, The European.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Will Schryver @imetatronink

History teaches us to never underestimate the Poles' prodigious talent for geopolitical blunder; grossly mismanaging their international relations in advance of a great-power conflict, and then getting trampled to rubble in the ensuing maelstrom.

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Jeff Martineau's avatar

Take a look at the comments coming out of Hungary, Italy, regarding the future of Europe.

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

Let's face it. No one.. not one single country in the EU "gamed" their strategy out in the event the US administration shifts and pivots. Hungary and Slovak's are the only ones to come around. Everyone else is going to be de-pantsed.

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Tamsin's avatar

I fear that we are ending DEI in exchange for strengthening anti-anti-semitism laws, per the settlement of the campus protest crisis since December 2023.

I am looking the gift horse in the mouth. Are we getting "it's okay to be white" in return for laws criminalizing questioning Zionism?

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Good question, Tamsin.

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Joe's avatar

Trump was likely giving orders to Poland

and Poland likely begging for assistance from Trump

In total, Poland’s contributions to Ukraine likely exceed €26 billion (per some estimates) encompassing loans, donations, and indirect support like refugee care. Poland has been awaiting reimbursement from the European Peace Facility (EPF) As of mid-2024, a Polish official estimated that Poland could be reimbursed for roughly half of the €4.5 billion approximately €2.25 billion.

By the end of 2024, Poland still hosted approximately 983,000 Ukrainians with temporary protection status,

eg: loans

Poland and other nations remain in limbo for full reimbursement, with ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve Hungary’s blockade or find alternative funding mechanisms. The situation reflects broader tensions within the EU over how to sustain support for Ukraine while navigating internal political dynamics.

eg: replaced equipment

Poland anticipated allied backfill to offset its depleted stocks. For instance, after donating MiG-29 jets, Poland secured eight MQ-9 Reaper drones from the U.S. in 2023 and negotiated replacements like Black Hawk helicopters.

A $2 billion U.S. loan in 2023 (with $1.5 billion forgiven) for modernization further suggests Poland expected Western support to offset its contributions indirectly, even if not a one-for-one replacement.

. An 11 minute conversation with Trump makes it abundantly clear

----------- >>>>>>> None of that will happen going forward.

.

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

So shouldn't Poland be asking for mineral rights to the tune of a few billion as well?

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Joe's avatar

Comparison of Monies to Ukraine As A

% of POLAND GDP 2023 estimate of €654 billion.

€26 billion ÷ €654 billion = 0.0398 (or 3.98%)

So, €26 billion is approximately 4% of Poland’s GDP, based on the 2023 estimate of €654 billion.

IF US gave Equal % GDP

% of US GDP

Using the 2024 nominal GDP of $28.894 trillion:

4% of $28.894 trillion = 0.04 × 28,894,000,000,000 = $1.15576 trillion

Poland is pretty deep in the hole, even though 26 Billion may not seem like alot compared to US claims

It Is To Poland. The Voters have to be pissed The Politicians have to be Worried

.

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Joe's avatar

and Poland still have to house 1 million refugees with NO return date in sight

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Joe's avatar

.

Conclusion:

Poland anticipated it's loans would be repaid

Poland anticipated it's donated equipment to be replaced or in large part reimbursed

Poland is still housing nearly 1 million refugees

Poland is stuck

Poland is panicked this news will reach it's citizens

Poland's presidential elections are scheduled for May 18, 2025.

.

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wn1001's avatar

Has anyone of you smartass ever being to Poland?

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Joe's avatar

No but I do have Russian and Polish associates and can add personal experience:

A. Many if not most of the Russian friends emigrated from Russia to US years ago and they are very upset if you bring up Putin - they remember Russia in the 1990's and how terrible it was/difficult it was and why they left. They do not want to hear one word about Russia.

B. All of the Polish despise Russia and are very upset if you bring up Ukraine or hint that Ukraine is losing. They do not want to hear one word about Russia.

In both cases the topic of Russia and Ukraine cannot be discussed unless one states Russia is terrible and Ukraine is great.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Megatron @Megatron_ron

NEW:

 Trump has given Europe three weeks to sign Ukraine's "capitulation"

This was announced by the Ukrainian MEP Mika Aaltola.

His words are quoted by Newsweek, which writes that the deputy is referring to the peace agreement proposed by Trump.

"If we don't do this, the United States will leave Europe," Aaltola added.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Trump should make them sign the capitulation - and leave anyway. The EU deserves nothing less. Europe will end up grovelling to Russia to be let back into the warmth - but only after the current leadership has been kicked out.

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ML's avatar

After 80 years of childhood, Europe has 3 weeks to grow up!

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Mark Wauck's avatar

President Duda waited outside Trump's door for 1.5 hours to talk to him for 10 minutes, according to Polish media.

Philip Pilkington @philippilk

"Meeting went something line this.

DUDA: “We’re the top spender in NATO apart from the US.”

TRUMP: “That’s great, real great, you build your own army because we’re bringing our guys back. Also these FDI flows are too large we’re reshoring.”

DUDA: [Shock and dismay emojis]"

Ask the South Koreans if they'll take złoty in payment for tanks, etc.

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Tristam's avatar

"we’re bringing our guys back."

Does that mean Trump will stand-down Lockheed Martin, that has an enormous investment in Poland?

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Quite possibly. Trump has much bigger deals in mind than factories in Poland.

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Steghorn21's avatar

Can't wait to see how he treats two people who have been far worse than Duda: Macron and Starmer. They'll probably be met by the WH janitor.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Trump owes neither of them anything.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Hilarious--you don't get a mulligan:

GeoInsider @InsiderGeo

"Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin explained that Finland's decision to join NATO was partly influenced by concerns about Donald Trump’s possible return to power. She feared a scenario where both Trump and Vladimir Putin held power simultaneously, making global stability uncertain. Marin criticized Trump's rhetoric, calling it alarming for smaller nations. ..."

Yeah, well, you might take that up with whoever wins the German election.

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Steghorn21's avatar

So, in her world, Trump's rhetoric is far more dangerous for smaller nations like Finland than insulting Russia is? That pretty much sums up the Woke outlook: hurty words are the worst thing in the world!

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ML's avatar

I believe Insanna Marin said that joining Nato was “an act of peace.” Whose making peace now? Hint: it ain’t Nato!

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Poland spent a decade or more supporting the Neocon agenda that Trump opposed. I'm sure he didn't even owe them ten minutes--just being polite.

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Tamsin's avatar

How much USAID went to Poland the last 30 years? To transform their society to bring it up to speed, culturally? I wonder.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Gotta wonder what Trump's eastern Euro wife tells him about some of these folks.

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Steghorn21's avatar

She probably has a few things to say about Polish dress sense.

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TomA's avatar

Poland has already suffered thousands of casualties in Ukraine via their contribution of covert mercenary forces to the AFU. This sacrifice was made in order to curry favor with the Biden Administration, but ultimately earned them nothing. As with the rest of Europe, they desperately need a bout of severe hardship in order to motivate political change and reenergize their economy with roll-up-your-sleeves hard work borne of necessity. Their salvation is not to be found in cleaver geopolitics, but rather in returning to their roots and getting dirt under their fingernails. If they do that, the wound with Russia will heal in due time.

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The Elder of Vicksburg's avatar

That’s what they get for trusting the americans. to paraphrase Kissinger.

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Manul's avatar

If Poland is let go, what of the other Eastern European nations, particularly the “Chihuahuas”?

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Mark Wauck's avatar

If they send their leaders to the WH, they might get a handshake and, 'Hey, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.'

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MikeinFL's avatar

Interesting piece from Mike Benz at 1:04 re: Poland and how they they use NED to stamp out populism.

https://x.com/i/status/1889250621468860659

"transitional justice"

Here's the link that he is quoting from:

https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclusive/how-to-dismantle-an-illiberal-democracy/

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