Walesa to Obama: ‘Give the Superpower to Poland and We Will Know What to do With It’

Lech Walesa was a better revolutionary than a president, but he did reflect the mood of Poland when he called on U.S. President Obama to be a little more assertive on the world stage.  

Former Polish President Lech Walesa (Defense.gov)

Obama will be visiting Poland to mark the 25^th anniversary since Poland emerged from the darkness of Communism to freedom. It’s a commendable visit particularly when Russia’s Putin is longing for the days of Soviet dominance. So putting aside my own heritage, it’s important to reassure any NATO allies.

Obama, will meet with Walesa – a Nobel Peace Prize winner (back when it still meant something), for successfully leading the Solidarity Movement against Soviet influence next month.

“I will say: Either you want to be a superpower and guide us, or you should give the superpower to Poland and we will know what to do with it. Amen,” Walesa said last week.

 

Perhaps Poland isn’t equipped now to be a superpower, but his point is that the U.S. has largely abandoned the role it has as the only remaining superpower in large part because of a president who doesn’t like being bothered by foreign policy.

"The world is disorganized and the superpower is not taking the lead. I am displeased,” Walesa said. "The point is not in having the States fix problems for us or fight somewhere, no. The States should organize us, encourage us and offer programs, while we, the world, should do the rest. This kind of leadership is needed.”

Communism took its toll on Poland, and the country is indebted to Walesa for leading Solidarity to victory on June 4, 1989, which was the beginning of the end of Communism in the country. He’s less beyond critique in Poland than much of the rest of the West. That’s a result of being president in a free society he helped restore.

Solidarity was successful in part because the U.S. had their back. Russia’s desired reemergence could be fleeting. But China is more than ready to claim superpower status. No matter who the U.S. president is, there is an urgent need to use the economic dominance as a superpower to shape world events