During a three-day visit to the US, Polish President Lech Kaczynski said Tuesday at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., “Twenty years ago, I could hardly imagine that not only myself but this huge delegation would be admitted to a military installation of this kind.” He called the visit “a symbol of the changes in the world.” The US is working with Poland to place a missile defense system in that country and the Czech Republic, an effort that continues to frustrate Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently offered an alternative arrangement. Kaczynski met with Missile Defense Agency officials at Vandenberg after stopping off in Washington for diplomatic discussions with President Bush. Kaczynski shared his view of the necessity for a missile defense system: “The fact that you are engaged in these kinds of activities proves there are dangerous forces in this world these days. Therefore, these defense preparations are extremely important.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
