The last part of my presentation will be entirely devoted to Barack Obama. Mainly because of his recent visit to Poland, which took place a few days ago.
Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States since 2009. Since taking office, he had no occasion to visit Poland, but has repeatedly traveled to Europe. For the first time as president of the United States he visited in 2009 Great Britain during the G20 Economic Summit. Then he went to France and Germany on the NATO Summit. The last stop of his trip were the Czech Republic because of the special meeting of the representation of the European Union and the United States.
In June 2009 he traveled again to Germany and France meeting with chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany) and president Nicolas Sarkozy (France). Then he attended the G8 summit in Italy and met with Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.
Additionally in 2009 he was twice in Denmark. In October at the Olympic Congress and in December at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The end of 2009 was a great event for Barack Obama, because he received the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".
Turning to 2010, Barack Obama was back in the Czech Republic signing the New START treaty with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Then in November he attended the 22nd NATO summit and the United Stastes - European Union summit in Portugal where he met with president Aníbal Cavaco Silva and prime Minister José Sócrates.
On his most recent trip to Europe he visited Ireland and Great Britain accompanied by the First Lady (Michelle Obama). Then he went to the G8 summit in France and at the end he finally visited Poland coming to our capital, Warsaw. This was his first visit in Poland as president of the United States however after the Smolensk plane crash there were plans for his arrival.
Questions:
- How would you rate the preparation to the visit of Barack Obama?
- What Poland has gained by this visit?
- What do you think about safety regulations applied during the visit
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_trips_made_by_the_President_of_the_United_States
- http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/
While Obama was in Warsaw I was having a very good holiday at polish sea. In Sopot to be precise, so I didn't have time to watch tv, but from what I heard Obama saw empty streets and empty buildings, what in my opinion didn't reflect well Poland on his view on Poland. What is more giving him electronic gadget from his own country and polish made game with a lot of bugs seems to me like mockery.
ReplyDeleteHas Poland gained anything? Maybe I am not so much interested in politics to be able to say that we have gained something or not but I think that it was just a courtesy visit full of nice gestures but nothing else. I heard that someone said that due to Obama’s visit Poland became more important in the arena of politics in Europe. For me it sounds a little bit funny. I don’t think that Germans or Frenchmen will respect our country because of president of USA.
ReplyDeleteBut how I said I am not a politics nerd that is why maybe I am wrong. And what do you think about it? Have we gained anything?
I agree with Gosia, there are no any significant goals accomplished with this visit. For current government it was a good occasion to show with accompany of the President of United States. I believe for both side it was just "making a proper impression". I know there were talks about gas and Smolensk, but I don't think it will bring any effects in the future.
ReplyDeleteI saw a funny scene by "Ani Mru-Mru" about preparation to this visit. It made me laugh and I hope it will be a good comment for all the situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COkdv86HOx4
Actually all the time I was trying to avoid city center. I don't know if all preparations had been successfully maid and finished. I guess if we had one year just to prepare ourselves, we wouldn't be able to finished everything on time. Polish mentality.
ReplyDeleteFor me it was rather funny. There were safety restrictions ordering our government to provide appropriate protection from the air. So everywhere where president was, two helicopters accompanied him. That's why he was easy to tracked down. Few of them were really sick. I think in those days everybody could be easily shotted down. I.e. if you leave near to 'road travel' enough to go outside on the balcony with the sweeping brush. I'm not sure if I present it clear...
One thing about president Bush. It's really worth to watch, enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frMz9s3OLwY
Poland still remembers the recent tragic death of its president very vividly. Not being able to guarantee safety to president Kaczynski, they left the safety of president Obama entirely in hands of Americans. They used it readily. There weren't any safety regulations of that kind when the president of the US visited London a few days earlier.
ReplyDeleteThe matter of Polish visas, one of the most urgent matters for Polish people, has not been solved. Just as the matter of a prospective US military base in Poland. Other things, like getting help with producing shale gas will have to wait as well.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete- How would you rate the preparation to the visit of Barack Obama?
ReplyDeleteQuite good. Could be better..
- What Poland has gained by this visit?
Absolutely nothing.
- What do you think about safety regulations applied during the visit?
Well, book-size topic. Closing half of the city by BOR was the stupidest thing they could imagine. I was in the center and the only Polish citizens (except me and some friends) were policemen!! I don’t know whether to laugh or cry for this reason. Closing restaurants, pubs, clubs, streets and many other things is so stupid.. I strongly recommend following article: http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,Komorowski-powinien-wstydzic-sie-przed-Obama,wid,13456293,komentarz.html?ticaid=1c6ed&_ticrsn=3 ("Komorowski powinien wstydzić się przed Obamą") – this is great article and I completly agree with the author's opinion.
I think that preparation was very good even too good.
ReplyDeleteHas Poland gained anything?!? I think that everything stood just on empty words - as usual….
1) Well they did all they could to please Obama, but in my opinion he won't be reelected next year so I think it's a waste :P
ReplyDelete2) I think everyone agrees that nothing at all :P
3) It's funny that such thing would not be possible in US :P
I believe that the whole visit was a farce ...
ReplyDeleteNo full sense of our government - which just does not surprise me.
Of course, I did not even intend to, watch this "big"events, the only thing that has benefited is canceled classes:)
I'm not interested in politics, so I do not have any particular views on this subject:)
I think that Poland is well prepared for the arrival of Obama. But I'm not sure if so much effort spent on the organization will profit. The U.S. president has no vote, for example on visas. And this is the thing which for many Poles is very important. Personally, I think it's more confusion than real political talks. I believe that it will come to us for good. The more that thanks to the Warsaw trip took me 2 hours instead of 30 minutes. The security of the President was a professional. I have no objection to that. But I have not seen the dangers that they would be, for example, in Libya.
ReplyDeleteContrary to some expectations, Obama has nothing "brought". He had a lot of warm words at Polish, but He only cared about relations with Russia, didn't do any "gifts". Who had too high expectations... had mistaken.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite funny how all of us agreed that international visits are almost essential, but when asked directly what did both countries (in this particular situation Poland and USA) the answer is nothing ;)
ReplyDeleteI agree that it was more of an impression for the crowd and the media, rather than to reach any important decisions. Still, I think it was worth it, even though no decisions were made.
What Poland has gained by this visit?
ReplyDeleteAnd we had gained something after visiting Obama?
What do you think about safety Regulations applied During the visit
Normally defeat! I was about 19.30 in the square "Pl. Starynkiewicza ".. and guess what? Trams not been traveled! For over an hour no one could get from "Ochota" on the other side of Warsaw! Because the Obama have to get to the hotel "Marriott" Normally paranoia ...
The last visit of Barack Obama in Poland, in my opinion, was fully prepared. Security Services raised to the challenge. Lot of people was unhappy because of closed city center for cars. We can dispute if it was a proper way to guarantee president’s safety. In my point of view all necessary steps should be taken to protect such imp. In my opinion all taken steps were necessary. It’s better to be prepared for the worst.
ReplyDeleteboring... looks like copied from a newspaper.
ReplyDeleteanswers:
1 - good
2 - nothing
3 - ok
>1. How would you rate the preparation to the visit of > Barack Obama?
ReplyDeleteIf you talking about Poland and Warsaw I can say that many of the unkempt places were cleaned up for his arrival. For me it's quite ironical that we have to have USA's president visit to have clean capitol.
>2. What Poland has gained by this visit?
Nothing or maybe some Smolenk's satellite photos, UFO existence information, purposes of secret CIA's prisons in Poland - WHO KNOWS? ;-) But probably nothing. USA has Poland in his.... ;)
>3. What do you think about safety regulations applied > during the visit
I heard that Obama took to Poland with him his HAMMER and ~500 people. When I heard that I laugh out loudly. What a pointless and useless wasting of resources.
During the Barack's visit my girlfriend waved to Obama and he waved her back.
How would you rate the preparation to the visit of Barack Obama?
ReplyDeleteIt all looked pretty well prepared. Sometimes our president and Obama acted like they have a detailed scenario written before the visit. That knew where to go, when to stop and when to shake hands.
What Poland has gained by this visit?
That’s a good question. We hear in media that such visits are crucial to our country. But what really happened, have we gained anything? Such a visit costs a lot of money. We need to bring more police to Warsaw, block streets and if it will change anything between our countries, it’s pretty unclear. I don’t think either Obama or Komorowski would say something that they could disagree with. They were both wishy-washy.
What do you think about safety regulations applied during the visit
I heard that people living near the streets used as Obamas tour through the city were advised not to open their windows as they can be shot by Secret Service. Also mobile phones were out of range due to some special equipment to interrupt remote bomb detonators. It was a horror for the citizens and I’m not convinced if it was worth it.