Loss of President of Poland Could Endanger Europe's Defense

By Douglas V. Gibbs

President Lech Kaczynski’s airplane carried the Polish president and dozens of the country’s top political and military leaders. They were enroute to the site of a Soviet massacre of Polish officers in World War II when the plane crashed in western Russia on Saturday, killing everyone on board.

The tragic loss of Polish President Lech Kacynksi hurts the stability of the region because the Polish President was a virulent anti-communist who really helped his nation escape the iron rule of the Soviet Union. Poland is one of the strongest allies of the United States, sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to assist the U.S. in its war on Islamic Terror. Poland has also been a critical part of the planned missile defense shield, of which Obama recently declared the United States would abandon.

The concern is that the repercussions on Poland’s coming presidential elections may now result in a leader that is not as clear-cut on a stance against tyranny, nor may be willing to be as close of an ally to the United States. In fact, the death of Kacynski may create a strain on Poland's relationship with Putin's Russia.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Plane Crash May Strain Poland’s Ties With Russia - New York Times