The Patriot is an air defence system and might be deployed in much the same way as the Russian S300s. I don't know what they epect to shoot down but Polish air force pilots may want to reflect that it was a Patriot system that shot down a damaged British aircraft (i.e. friendly) as it returned from a mission in Gulf War 2, killing the pilot.

Unreliable and unnecessary hardware. If Poland wants rapproachmen with Russia, this in not the way to go about it.

This is short sighted and very sad development for Poland. Most certainly, this sad development will will increase tension between Russia and Poland. The Polish elite want American Patriot Missiles to irritate Russia. The sad and tragic miscalculation is that Poland could have gained greater economic gains by easing tension with Russia. American Patriot Missiles- will not protect Poland from Russia because Russia has no reason to attack Poland. Of course, the Polish economic and political elite are also not happy that Russia is making closer alliance with Germany. This weapons are meant to prolong American influence over European affairs. It is also curious that as soon as a new government came to power in Japan, a government which promised that it wants American troops and weapons out of Japan, a new tension has arisen between North and South Korea! Dido! The American soldiers and weapons must now stay in Japan. North Korea denied downing the South Korean boat but now the Americans are threatening war against North Korea! Are the Russians still singing the "reset" button with the U.S? Russians have a history of ignoring gathering threats against their homeland and we know how ignoring the threat of Hitler’s impending invasion of the Soviet Union spelled a disaster for the Soviet Union in 1941. I do think that the Russians need to speak with the U.S with firm language.

What the hell? I thouth they decided not to place any defence systems!!! Some one is just asking for confrontation!

"Artem Bologov – an entrepreneur from a nearby city – criticized the move because the missiles will stand less than a hundred kilometers from the border with Russia. " This is not a Polish name. ( maybe Russian :) PR101-" Of course, the Polish economic and political elite are also not happy that Russia is making closer alliance with Germany." i don't think so Russia is making closer alliance with Germany. They have good relatins- that's all. Germany today is Poland's dominant trading partner. Poland is the only member of the EU to have avoided a decline in GDP = Germans are very happy because they need wealthy neiboohrs. They are together in NATO, EU, Weimar triangle, G-6, etc. so they are very integrated. They want together democratic and modern Russia. btw. Poland/EU are not crying about Kailningrad Oblast- one the most militarized areas of Europe.

When will the United States learn to live in peace with the rest of the world? It seems the more than 750 military bases around the world are not enough to protect "our freedom and democracy." Nothing will. The Polish government is voluntarily becoming a stooge of a militaristic empire, thus getting not more, but less security. How about their national pride? Poland faces no threat from Russia or any other European country. This is an American military assault on Poland's sovereignty and adds nothing to its security. I feel really very sorry for the Polish people, victims of the bloated and stupid arrogance of their own leaders.

@Maple Leaf Artyom Bologov is a Russian name, but do you think he could have lived in Poland his whole life? Maybe something called the Soviet Union allowed his family to move there. Maybe he actually loves Poland as no one wants their homes militarized. Just from his name, you make unfair assumptions. What if an American was named Federov? Don't trust him right? Its dangerous assumptions (remember US interned Japanese Americans in WWII). As for stating Kalingrad is the most militarized part is not the fault of Russia as they continually try to demilitarize it only to have Baltic States block the transit of Tanks and other hardware back to mainland Russia. Most militarized parts of Europe are NATO client states. Bean counters won't be fooled. It is these thoughts that give journalists jobs who report everytime a TU-95 Bear flies in international airspace. They write as if is threatening and how fighters are scrambled to meet them... Do they write about NATO flights? How many times are they flying? Why aren't they in the news? A hidden US base in the Baltics was discovered by a US jet crash so they are flying. Bilateral agreements and trade are good for everyone including Germany, Poland and Russia. My personal belief is to ignore the placement of these Patriot missiles. They are there due to the administrations fears and policies of the Great Bear that will again move West... If our administration holds to the people's beliefs of NO WAR... then in time these things will prove unnecessary. ____________________________________________ Adding military hardware or any military growth always makes people uneasy. However, the weapons industry is just too big. Many people don't realize they all work together. They know no national boundaries. Those with the money get the newest toys. These global players manipulate others. Everyone who listens to the drum beat of war, just realize the people on the other side are just like you. PEACE.

Relax guys - really this issue was decided in 2002 already and after 8 years of negotiations there was no way to pull out of this and stand as a credible partner in NATO. Poland needs those missles as our air defense system still has as much holes as a swiss cheese. There are some NATO standards that must be made and polish air defense system is not qualifying for them. In 2008 Poland bought whole batteries of RBS-15 and NSM missles that were specially designed versions to attack surface targets in Kaliningrad. They are one of the stealthiest most accurate systems available in the world - much more dangerous to russian power projection over Balitc region, than one battery of anti-air missles. However I`ve never read about those on RT - only about patriot battery. I find it particulary funny that in the early 2000s Poland bought from Russia missles for their S-200 anti air systems which have much bigger range than Patriot missles - no one fussed about it. So basically we have here discussion over american anti-air missles=BAD, russian anti-air missles=GOOD. Actually I prefer S-300 family than MIM-104, but Russia refused to sell them to Poland (argument was that they wont sold to NATO country- but Russia sold S-300 to Greece) so what choice we had in order to fit NATO standards? I think that if Poland decided to buy S-300 systems from Russia I would never see those news on RT.

Someone is making a killing in Poland from kickbacks from this project. Let them have a useless system. Let them spend all there money on useless items. Maybe then the Market will be flooded with Polski Ogorski Pickles at a cheaper price when they go broke. I just love them polish pickles with some herring and Russian Vodka

I dont't get it. The US put short-medium missiles on Polish soil next to the Russo-Belorussian border and have the guts to say "Hey don't worry, it's no threat to you guys, just don't bother please, look the other way. It's against Iran, Hizbollah and N. Korea (which are, as opposed to Russia, out of the reach of such weapons)". ... I mean, come on! )))

Razkolnik There is no real Russia-The U.S reset: the U.S leadership is playing with fire. the U.S elites are orchestrating number of potential wars including one in North Korea and one in Iran. Russia's leadership cannot be that naïve, I do hope so.

Just over a year ago Russia in its peace loving gesture - promise to NUKE Poland - patriots is NECESSITY for Poland!!

@mccusa - there is no defense against NUKE, patriots arent even fit to intercept anything more than old cranky SCUD (maybe PAC3 version could). But overall they are quite good medium ranged anti-air systems - something which Polish defense structure lacks. I think that after those 20 years both political elites in Poland and Russia decided to stop sabre-rattling and sit to talk. Most differences dissappeared, and there are not anymore point for both sides to prove or argue.

As usual western hypocrisy is provocatively outrageous....Can all these NATO apologists remember the war president Kennedy almost started during the Cuban missile crises? How do you suppose these cold war left-overs would react if the Russians decided to ship a few S300s to Cuba again...you suppose they'd 'relax'?

Hi Larry - cold war left-overs would do propably the same as what they did when Iran bought S-300. They would do nothing. Why? Because they cant do a thing! Times when some empire - either USA or USSR dictated what to do or dont to other nations are long over.

F Poland- Let me remind you of the big picture. NATO claims they installed the patriots in Poland as a deterrent to Iranian missiles. You don't suppose NATO means the S300s, do you? As far as who dictates foreign policies to who.....Did Poland request the patriots on their soil? Or was the patriot installation on Polish soil NATO's idea? You tell me. I think the cold war is alive and well and Poland is a bit player.

No Larry - NATO plan was to put AMD shield in Poland to intercept missles from Iran and North Korea. AMD plans in Poland are gone, but there was a modernisation program for polish anti-air medium range capability that was introduced in 1999 when Poland entered NATO. Russia denied sales of S-300 (those were choosen because system has similiar operability as S-200 and S-125 that Poland still has) so welcome the Patriots. Poland was threatened by Russia with nuclear strikes several times after entering NATO, so it was decided that as one of few NATO countries without US bases, Patriots will come with US soldiers - the only guarantee that Russia will stop its threats. This was decided around 2006 and after 8 years of negotiations total time came to realisation.

F Poland, Seems convenient that Poland's hard core cold war foreign policy coincides with NATOs. It is also convenient that an 'upgraded' patriot system seems to accomplish the same role as AMD shield which is to contain/threaten Russia and render NATO relevant again. Was the AMD shield against Iran & N. Korea Poland's idea too? Or was that NATO's idea? As far as Russians having an option to sell S300s to Poland...that's more absurd than Boris Yeltsin running a super power while stoned on vodka. Why would the Russians sell their missile system to Poland so that Poland could use them against Russia? You also say; "...as one of few NATO countries without US bases, Patriots will come with US soldiers - the only guarantee that Russia will stop its threat" which really contradicts this statement: "Hi Larry - cold war left-overs would do propably the same as what they did when Iran bought S-300. They would do nothing. Why? Because they cant do a thing! Times when some empire - either USA or USSR dictated what to do or dont to other nations are long over" Like I said before, the cold war is alive & well and Poland is a bit player.

American Patiot PAC-2 there are lousy compare to even Russian early versions of S-300 system, but still for Polish Air defence system is better that old post Russian air defence misile systems like S-125 or others. Generaly, currantly Poland do not have air defence system, which could succesfully defence Polish and East NATO air space border. This is why Poland is asking for years America to deploy Patriots in Poland. PAC-2 ADS is not strategic system like AMD shield and Russia should be happy that AMD shield option is not on the table any more... Europe is delivering their own ADS. Do not forget Russia is already putting newer Air Defence systems (ADS) like S-400 (and its upgrated versins) way better than S-300. So Russia would like that Poland would not upgrate its Air Defence while improveing its own, which even with S-300 is most likely THE BEST ON THE WORLD and it is softly said - unfair. Izrael is building its own Arrow ADS for years, but they have a lot of problems with it. Poland is looking closely to this ADS, because American Patriot PAC-2 is only temporary solution.