Now that the Obama White House has officially scrapped plans for an Eastern European Missile Defense shield (on the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion no less!), many have been left to wonder if there is anything the US could or should do to redeem their standing in the eyes of many slighted Poles and disillusioned Czechs. In short, the answer is yes. And it comes in the form of greater economic engagement.

For many Poles, the missile defense system symbolized more than just the promise of military and geopolitical security. It also brought the prospect of long-term economic stability, in the form of American trade, capital and foreign direct investment. Along with ground based interceptors, came expectations of increased defense knowledge sharing, military equipment sales and logistics support by both Polish civilian and military personnel.
 
While US-Polish defense cooperation is far from finished, there has been a clear shift in US priorities. However, there are still opportunities to further US-Polish ties through greater economic cooperation, particularly in the manufacturing, IT and environmental technologies sectors. Both US and Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stand to benefit from improved trade relations and expanded export markets. This is especially true for US manufacturers – many of them located in the recession hit Midwest – struggling to compete with cheaper producers in Asia.

According to the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ), the US ranks 6th in terms of FDI in Poland – behind Germany, France and even Luxembourg – making up only five percent of Poland’s total. Equally, Poland’s exports to the US do not even place it in the top 15.

Thus, both countries have a lot to gain economically and therefore politically.  President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton should be more aware of this, especially since both have roots in Chicago, a city well-known for having the one of the largest Polish (among other Eastern European) communities in the US.

Re: Guns v. Butter

Re: "many have been left to wonder if there is anything the US could or should do to redeem their standing in the eyes of many slighted Poles and disillusioned Czechs." Our glorious and beloved leader, Barack Obama the Most High, the All-Knowing community organizer received kudos from all corners when he came to Europe a few months ago. He seemed to be on an apology tour of some kind. Scarcely a day went by when he was not apologizing to somebody for some offense----real or imagined----that the U.S. had inflicted on the world and some time or other in the past. In keeping with the grand tradition of apologizing, I would like to offer my apologies on behalf of all THINKING Americans for the recent decision by our wet-behind-the-ears chief executive. Specifically, I would like to apologize for the actions of our president. We have a saying here that when somebody deceives another or disavows an obligation that the aggrieved party was "thrown under the bus." During the presidential campaign, the pres threw his grandmother under the bus by pointing out how she may have been racially prejudiced at one time or another----although grandma had raised the little brat. Then, it became politically expedient to break his ties with his minister (a Black "liberation theology" kind of guy) of more than 20 years. So Reverend Wright was thrown under the bus. (For a real hoot, go to Youtube and look this fellow up.) Recently, Van Jones, an avowed communist who had been appointed "energy czar" because a political liability. (Here again, I would refer you to Youtube.) In our health care debate, our Dear Beloved leader proposes to make health care "for everyone" (although by law we all get health care anyway) by cutting $500 billion from medical care now given to senior citizens. So now he's throwing our grandparents under the bus as well-----all for political gain, just like all the other people already under the bus. Nobody here who has paid attention to Obama is surprised that he will take the politically expedient option every time. He's just that way. Not a man of principle, but a man blindly driven by his world vision. I have to admit, though, that nobody knew there was still enough room under the Obama bus for two entire European countries. So again, on behalf of all thinking Americans, I apologize for the actions of our president.