Napierdalać Się - Election 2008 Debate 1

Ah, Poland made it into last nights debate!

Senator Obama:
"It is absolutely important that we have a unified alliance and that we explain to the Russians that you cannot be a 21st-century superpower, or power, and act like a 20th-century dictatorship.

And we also have to affirm all the fledgling democracies in that region, you know, the Estonians, the Lithuanians, the Latvians, the Poles, the Czechs, that we are, in fact, going to be supportive and in solidarity with them in their efforts"

Yet on July 16, 2007 when Obama met with Polish President Lech Kaczynski - Obama made the following comments Link Here:

“Not long ago, we looked to Poland as a country that needed American help in its own efforts to be free and secure; now we look to Poland as a critical partner in building a safer, freer world." and

"“Poland has been a steadfast champion of liberty in the countries to its east. America and Poland should stand together to help Ukraine build a strong and stable democracy, and to help the people of Belarus regain their human rights." and

“Since joining NATO in 1997, Poland has become one of America’s most important strategic partners, dedicating troops and resources to our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

So why, then, did Obama refer to a Poland as a 'fledgling democracy' during the first presidential debate. Let's review the definition of 'fledgling' -
–noun
1. a young bird just fledged.
2. an inexperienced person.
–adjective
3. young or inexperienced

It seems odd to say that Poland is a critical partner and that Poland should help Ukraine build a strong and stable democracy, and then call them inexperienced in the next breath. Perhaps this was a misstatement by the 'fledgling Senator'.