VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHWR #1814 2341541
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221541Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY WARSAW
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5042
INFO RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0131
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L WARSAW 001814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR ISN ASSISTANT SECRETARY JOHN C ROOD 
STATE FOR PM/SNA AMBASSADOR MCDONALD 
OSD FOR DASD BRIAN GREEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/22/2017 
TAGS: MARR MAS PREL PL
SUBJECT: DEFMIN TELLS REP TURNER THAT POLES AIM TO "BUY" 
AIR DEFENSE ASSETS 
 
Classified By: Charge Kenneth M. Hillas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) While speaking on Missile Defense issues, Defense 
Minister Aleksander Szczyglo expressed Poland's desire to 
purchase "modern" air defense missile systems from the U.S. 
in a meeting with Congressman Michael Turner, member of the 
HASC, on August 17.  Ambassador, DATT and Ministry of Defense 
Missile Defense expert, Piotr Pacholski, also attended. 
Szczyglo's additional comments on Afghanistan and Iraq are 
reported in SEPTEL. 
 
¶2. (C) On Missile Defense, Minister Szczyglo stressed: the 
importance of the next round of negotiations scheduled for 
6-7 September, his keen interest in Congressional budget 
cuts, and allaying concerns of local residents about the 
impact of the base.  Szczyglo also previewed what his 
ministry was prepared to do, together with the U.S., to 
educate the Slupsk community on what the base might look like 
based on examples from recent trips to Vandenberg Air Force 
Base.  He described the main problem as lack of information, 
and added that the absence of logical voices to counter the 
opposition made matters worse.  He emphasized that talk of 
Slupsk as the location for the base is still unofficial and 
this will not be final until the decision is made to actually 
place a missile defense base in Poland.  Once that decision 
is made, the Ministry of Defense is ready to work with the 
United States to resolve local concerns. 
 
¶3. (C) The Minister went on to elaborate Poland,s desire to 
obtain "modern" air defense missile systems.  (Note, we 
understand this to mean Patriots, although senior Polish 
officials have in the past made reference to future THAAD 
systems as well.)  He emphasized that Poland does not expect 
to get something for free and is willing to purchase the best 
possible air defense system.  The Minister stated he is 
sometimes surprised when the United States asks why Poland 
needs an air defense system like Patriot because the same 
question is not asked of countries like Germany or Italy.  He 
frankly stated that he thought it improper that an 
Administration official asked this question.  He wanted 
Congress to know it,s necessary for Poland to have a modern 
air defense system.  He underscored that Poland is not 
looking to get something for free, but is willing to pay the 
normal price for such a system.  He urged the Congressman to 
help convince the Administration of this need. 
HILLAS