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Comment by ghuyjhgty | Hacker News Reader

You are aware that countries like Poland and Romania are begging the US to station as many troops as possible on their soil, and do all kinds of back flips for this, right?

> The Polish government is asking the U.S. to open a military base in Poland as a counter balance to Russia. They've offered the U.S. up to $2 billion, as well as a promise to call it "Fort Trump."

https://www.npr.org/2018/11/22/670228558/poland-requests-u-s...

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This brings to mind Geir Lundestad’s phrase “empire by invitation,” describing America’s burgeoning role in western Europe in the early years of the Cold War at the behest of these governments (and largely supported by public opinion in these countries, as well).

And Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria...

But, but, but, USA bad, man.

That sounds like the wish of the Polish military, less so the Polish people.

You don't understand the history of Poland, it's role in world war II or it's role in the cold war. Poland's people are strongly pro nato acting as a stopguard.

In Romania's case I would like to understand more.

I am quite aware of Polish history over the past five hundred years. That doesn't mean they want to hand sovereignty to NATO.

Au contraire, they entered NATO to ensure they remain sovereign.

Romanians hate Russia as much as poles do, due to recent history.

The most damaging thing you can say about a politician in Romania is that he is pro-Russia.

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