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Polish Leader to Meet President Obama


Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski speaks during the Polish Independence Day celebrations in Warsaw, Poland, Nov 11, 2010 (file photo)
Poland's President Bronislaw Komorowski speaks during the Polish Independence Day celebrations in Warsaw, Poland, Nov 11, 2010 (file photo)

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski meets Wednesday with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House, as Washington seeks to ease international concerns about a slew of classified diplomatic cables made public by the website WikiLeaks.

A brief White House statement Tuesday said President Obama would consult with his Polish counterpart on a broad range of strategic issues of mutual concern.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speaking Tuesday in Warsaw, said documents published by WikiLeaks had stripped Warsaw of illusions on his government's relationship with Washington.

WikiLeaks published a 2009 cable from U.S. officials describing Poland's disappointment with a U.S. defense deal.

According to the cable, Poland was seeking armed Patriot missiles, regardless of the outcome of a separate missile defense deal. However, U.S. negotiators told Polish officials the proposed Patriot system would not be operational.

Warsaw had been eager for a stronger U.S. military presence, including live Patriot missiles, in Poland to counter what they feel is a constant threat from Russia.

But the cable said U.S. plans at the time appeared to call for only 20 to 30 U.S. personnel to maintain unarmed U.S. Patriot missiles.

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