News / Sikorski doctrine - Eastern Europe under threat. Poland's foreign policy. [171]


I mentioned that behind US interests in the region, it would be Israel, and then Poland (with their combat troops deployed in two bordering countries. INS doesn't require satellites. On a side note, Iran has already put a satellite into space, obviously a single bird isn't enough to set up a positioning system, but they have the capability to put things into orbit. I personally don't think that Poland has anything to worry about, BUT, it has put itself into a position of being a more credible threat to Iran (and vice versa) than say Greece or Austria. If I were an Iranian military planner, I would definitely be paying attention to Poland (the missile shield+troops closely deployed+close cooperation between the military of both countries)...

News / Sikorski doctrine - Eastern Europe under threat. Poland's foreign policy. [171]


Of course, but the point is that a threat exists, regardless of it was self made by Poland or not.


It depends on which weapons systems you're talking about. Fire a cruise missile from a B52 and you'll hit what you want. Same goes for a SLBM from underwater. It will be put on target, it's not particularly difficult to do. A MRBM would go suborbital before leaving Iranian airspace, and come down on its target. If there is an all out war for whatever reason, it will be one of survival for Iran, and I'm sure that behind Israel and US assets in the middle east, Polish allies rank pretty high on the list of targets.

News / Sikorski doctrine - Eastern Europe under threat. Poland's foreign policy. [171]


Interesting, so you do see a threat from Iran based on the decisions that Poland has made in the past...


MRBMs would travel outside of those countries airspace.

News / Sikorski doctrine - Eastern Europe under threat. Poland's foreign policy. [171]


Dunno, but Poland is the only ally of the "Great Satan" with troops stationed in two countries bordering it that is reachable by Fajr and Shahab missiles...

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

We're talking about Belarus remember. Belarus doesn't threaten other countries and voluntarily gave up its nuclear weapons. Lukashenko is a dictator, fair enough. But you were advocating some sort of intervention. I just don't understand why you'd want to intervene with Belarus, but not China.

Anyway, we're having brisket, as baby Jesus intended.

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]

So one of the few countries in the world to voluntarily disarm themselves of nuclear weapons and doesn't threaten other countries needs to be dealt with? I'm curious to hear your approach to China...

News / What should Poland do with the problem of Belarus? [1800]


Except for the fact that Belarus isn't threatening any countries.


They're free to leave, it's not a North Korea/GDR style "cage them in" country.

Law / Buying a USED CAR in Poland, my personal experiences and TRAPS to avoid !! [133]

I was looking at an UAZ van a while back... the price would have been just right for a good example, but it was a complete POS. And I mean, most people don't just go and buy old military hardware without at least having a bit of a clue. Don't understand why they continue to push it..

Off-Topic / Random movies (not Polish) proposed by forum users [91]


Is our good friend lektor also used in Russia?

Off-Topic / Random movies (not Polish) proposed by forum users [91]

Thanks for that. It's interesting that lektor wasn't employed. When did lektor start showing up instead of dubbing/subtitles?

Law / Buying a USED CAR in Poland, my personal experiences and TRAPS to avoid !! [133]

I bought my bike here in Poland, it was cheap, and everything was in order.

If you're buying a car, take a mechanic, preferably one with some bodywork experience. They're not that difficult to get a hold of. If that's too much, just have the contract amended to provide for a 10 period where you can check out the car. If anything fishy comes up, like bodywork or undisclosed repairs, enforce the contract. You don't have to have national lemon laws to draw up a contract. If they're telling the truth, they won't have a problem signing the contract. If you suspect body work, take a small fridge magnet with you and check the areas that are susceptible to rust. Bondo + magnet = magnet laying on the ground.

Life / Rate Poland (Life Quality / Culture and People / Food): 1-10! [232]


My brother bought his ranger cash, '98, nice truck. The total percentage put down has decreased over the years to the "zero down" environment we have now. I wouldn't buy that debt. You see the same thing happening in Poland. Down payments as a percentage of the value of the loan is dropping like a rock.

But, we're deviating :) Don't have time to read the rest, gotta run.

Food / Is brain-damaging vegan fad growing in Poland? [176]


Yes, I use it to clean up cat puke.


Again, I have no problems with Vegetarians. It was a funny quote by Bourdain. More offal for me to enjoy.

Food / Is brain-damaging vegan fad growing in Poland? [176]


And entertainment is just entertainment, traveling is just traveling, wine is just wine, music is just music, and sex is just sex. It's more of a comment on the attitude of certain people. Like I said, I don't mind them, could care less until I get a lecture...but, why not really enjoy something? Is that a bad thing to be passionate about things in our daily life?

Food / Is brain-damaging vegan fad growing in Poland? [176]

"Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter-faction, the vegans, are a persistent irritant to any chef worth a damn.

To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.

Vegetarians are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit, an affront to all I stand for, the pure enjoyment of food. The body, these waterheads imagine, is a temple that should not be polluted by animal protein. It's healthier, they insist, though every vegetarian waiter I've worked with is brought down by any rumor of a cold.

Oh, I'll accomodate them, I'll rummage around for something to feed them, for a 'vegetarian plate', if called on to do so. Fourteen dollars for a few slices of grilled eggplant and zucchini suits my food cost fine." -Tony Bourdain

I agree with Tony 100%. That said, they don't bother me in the least.

Life / Rate Poland (Life Quality / Culture and People / Food): 1-10! [232]


That's interesting, because in just about every shop and store in Africa, they smile and joke around. Hell, bus drivers smile.

That said, I think ratings like this don't make a lot of sense without providing a base in each category to rate against. What do you consider to contribute to a high quality of life? Convenience? Infrastructure? Health care? Vacation time? Access to credit? Safety? Government intrusion on your personal life? Nightlife? Purchasing power? diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks...

For me, I like living in Poland, just couldn't see myself getting old there... The Czech Republic on the other hand would be perfect if they had a coastline..


Those that save up for them and live within their means?
It's the norm in most developing markets where consumer credit isn't as widespread.

USA, Canada / Polack/American Polonia/Plastic Pole "culture" [568]

No you see, that's interesting. I listened to the interview (which is amazing in and of itself), and she mentions Eastern European women. Now, I know it's a little thing, but quite a few Poles get very defensive about that term when describing Poland, or Polish people. It's one of many small nuances that just make you cringe. Check the forum for reactions from Poles about identifying as "Eastern European". Central, it's central!...or so I'm told.

I think that main bone of contention is that there is an romanticized version of Poland which is out of touch with the reality of Poland. I personally don't take any issue with it, but it seems to be a case of seeing what you want to see. Dunno. Just my worthless two groszy on the topic.

Life / The Polish Wedding - What is it Like in Poland? [338]

It seems to be more of an observation of the shift in traditions than a turn towards negativity. Things are a changing.

Law / Zloty lifts Poland's Economy [43]

Here's some sunshine dust sprinkled over a steaming pile of fiat currency:

The EU plans to make private lenders cover the losses of any future eurozone debt crisis
bbc.co.uk/news/business-11978495

That is excellent news. I essence, I read this as saying the next country that takes a hit will just be allowed to go bankrupt leaving the private investors holding the debt standing in the cold. Good deal, will make the buyers (and issuers) of European debt more disciplined and stable.

Travel / Best place to exchange money in Poland? [98]


Better yet, get in touch with the local newspaper and let them know what happened. It might not make it into the paper, but the CPC will get a whiff of it. Might even get someone executed...either because their fighting corruption, or because they weren't cut in...

Law / Zloty lifts Poland's Economy [43]


Who told you the plan?!?!? It was supposed to stay secret until the big moment. You ruined the surprise.


The zloty was devalued to stimulate exports and investment during the downturn, which it successfully did by expanding the money supply and dropping rates.


Well...kind of. They are bound to join the euro, but there is no time frame. NBP isn't stupid, hopefully they'll hold onto to the Zloty as long as possible.

News / Sikorski doctrine - Eastern Europe under threat. Poland's foreign policy. [171]


Heh, judging by the last 1000 years, couldn't the same be said for any country?

Regarding nukes, Poland has to weigh if it will be worth the short term ostracization and long term shift in relationships with current partners will be worth it.

News / "To understand Poland you must understand Frederic Chopin" (Stratfor Friedman) [74]


Now who is benefiting from the economic output...and the type of economic output...hell, lets call it the quality of the economic output, that's debatable..


Paying vs. investing. But again, going back to the first point...


Terrible. You don't see the benefits of full sovereignty or the economies of scale of a single state (single government for instance).

News / "To understand Poland you must understand Frederic Chopin" (Stratfor Friedman) [74]


The increase in economic output more than makes up for it.


Yup, and that's the problem with the European experiment. Either full on single entity, or a huge freetrade/movement zone (which would make more sense...).

History / Are Poles happy with the current Polish borders? [134]

Better question, why would they want to?

Language / Spelling "aunt" in Polish [142]


I need to drop off some cookies with my neighbor, I'll ask her if she's ever heard it. She's pushing 90 :)

News / "To understand Poland you must understand Frederic Chopin" (Stratfor Friedman) [74]

If there is anything to take away from all this, it's that no developed countries will ever enter conventional warfare again. The bomb kept the US and the Soviet Union from going to war...

News / Polish President Lech Kaczynski and gov officials die in a plane crash in Russia [686]


I don't think they would have been able to start the engines without the fuel pumps on. Apparently they managed to relight one of the engines.

News / Strange object over Poland's Silesia [27]

Nothing on dlapilota, but it sounds like a flare. Are you close to a military base?

Love / 20% of adult Poles are single and live with Mummy! [241]


Most other European countries also require registration.