Letter: Dropping missile shield sends wrong message to needy countries

Ever since President Obama made his outlandish foreign policy announcement to debunk the missile defense shield arrangement that had been made with Poland and the Czech Republic, I have been thinking about my letter to the editor in July.

It described an event which I attended in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 2009, when Baltic Americans gathered to remember and honor countrymen who were brutally lost to the Soviet “evil” empire on June 14, 1941.

Imagine the fear, the disappointment, the rejection of those who understand firsthand the possible return of Russian aggression toward a region of Europe, which the Obama administration’s decision implies.

To make the point that missile defense is an anathema to the present administration, the new policy was made on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland. Surely this is pouring salt in a wound that still weeps.

NATO allies, which includes the Baltic countries, deserve not only our consideration, but our continued promise to be faithful to their security.

In November 2002, which President George W. Bush welcomed Lithuania into NATO, the huge crowds who gathered in Vilnius cheered with their grateful thanks.

Not only that area closely affected geographically, but others, such as the little country of Georgia, have reason to be frightened.

In August 2008, I had the opportunity to visit two legislators from Georgia. It was during a damaging hurricane in Florida.

This comment made by one of the representatives describes what these countries must feel when they watch and listen to America’s present stance: “You have your hurricane; our hurricane is called Putin.”

Perhaps foreign policy concerns are not a priority item with us because we have been without a 9/11 attack since 2001.

Softness on defense, however, becomes a salient issue, doesn’t it, when America becomes less safe due to politically motivated blunders?

Tags: letters to editor, opinion, politics