To the editor:

The Obama administration’s willingness to abandon the Poles to their aggressive neighbor and historic enemy, Russia, continues the West’s long tradition of betraying one of our staunchest allies.

In 1939, both France and Britain encouraged the Poles to resist German demands for the (historically German) city of Danzig (now called Gdansk). Having secured a guarantee that, if they were attacked, France and Britain would come to their aid, they rejected proposed negotiations for transferring Danzig and some surrounding areas back under German control. A little over 70 years ago this month, German tanks rolled into Poland while Soviet tanks rolled in at its other end. The allies declared war but only upon Germany, apparently believing it was acceptable for Soviets to kill Poles but not Germans. Equally apparently, this tradition now continues.

The Obama administration’s recent indication it will not deploy a missile defense in Poland is a clear signal to Vladimir Putin that his murderous ways now bear the imprimatur of American cowardice. Despite poisoning his critics, murdering journalists who report on his corruption, invading Georgia and slaughtering its citizens, despite the continued brutal oppression of the Chechens and despite his closing down of opposition newspapers, Putin (a Joseph Stalin clone) enjoys a life free from U.S. opprobrium.

This latest move should signal to Israel that it can no longer rely upon the United States to support its interests in the Middle East. Prime Minister Netanyahu has no recourse but to let loose the dogs of war.