Poland expresses dismay at Obama's 'death camp' comment
3
hours
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The Polish government expressed dismay on Wednesday after President Barack Obama referred to a World War II concentration camp as a “Polish death camp.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was a comment that Poland could not ignore. "We cannot accept such words even if they are spoken by the leader of a friendly power - or perhaps especially in such situations - since we expect diligence, care, and respect from our friends on issues of such importance as World War II remembrance."
Obama made the comment Tuesday while awarding the Medal of Freedom to Jan Karski, a resistance fighter against the Nazi occupation of Poland during World War II. Karski died in 2000.
During an East Room ceremony honoring 13 Medal of Freedom recipients, Obama said that Karski "served as a courier for the Polish resistance during the darkest days of World War II. Before one trip across enemy lines, resistance fighters told him that Jews were being murdered on a massive scale and smuggled him into the Warsaw Ghetto and a Polish death camp to see for himself. Jan took that information to President Franklin Roosevelt, giving one of the first accounts of the Holocaust and imploring to the world to take action."
The Associated Press reported that Obama's remark drew swift complaints from Poles who said Obama should have called it a "German death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland," to distinguish the perpetrators from the location. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called it a matter of "ignorance and incompetence."
Alex Storozynski, president of the Kosciuszko Foundation, said Obama's comment "shocked the Poles present at the White House and those watching on C-SPAN. ... Karski would have cringed if he heard this."On Tuesday President Barack Obama awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to a new group of recipients that included Bob Dylan. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said: "The president misspoke. He was referring to Nazi death camps in Poland. We regret this misstatement, which should not detract from the clear intention to honor Mr. Karski and those brave citizens who stood on the side of human dignity in the face of tyranny."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Comments.
Dr_GS_Hurd
While the Germans certainly were the major organized murderers of Jews in Poland (see Browning 1992), the Poles were to a large degree supporters, and co-partisipants (see Gross 2001). No doubt the Polish politicians would like to rewrite their history.
Browning, Christopher R. 1992 “Ordinary Men: Reserve Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland” New York: Harper Collins
Gross, Jan T. 2001 “Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland” Princeton University Press
#1 - Wed May 30, 2012 9:46 AM EDTBrowning, Christopher R. 1992 “Ordinary Men: Reserve Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland” New York: Harper Collins
Gross, Jan T. 2001 “Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland” Princeton University Press
Reading several other news sources on this story, I find that the degree of "outrage" is a direct measure of the political slant of the source. The far-right is screaming for blood, but they always are.
#1.1 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:05 AM EDT
Having most of my grandfather's family murdered in POLISH death camps, I'd agree.
The Polish were just as, if not more so, anti-semitic as the Germans were.
I think Obama is wrong in many things, but this "blunder" I think is a correct one.
#1.2 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:05 AM EDTThe Polish were just as, if not more so, anti-semitic as the Germans were.
I think Obama is wrong in many things, but this "blunder" I think is a correct one.
Nonsense! The Poles were targeted by Hitler much like the Jews. 1.5 million non-Jewish Poles were executed in the German operated death camps. Himmler was quoted as saying the Poles will be exterminated or made into slave labor.
In the Jewish Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, there is a list of "Righteous of Nations." These are people that, at grave risk to themselves, saved Jewish lives during the German Holocaust. Nearly 25% of those "Righteous" are Poles.
#1.3 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:06 AM EDTIn the Jewish Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, there is a list of "Righteous of Nations." These are people that, at grave risk to themselves, saved Jewish lives during the German Holocaust. Nearly 25% of those "Righteous" are Poles.
What a sad defense of an ignorant gaff. Rather than accepting that the messiah made a boo-boo you would instead slander an entire nation. A nation that suffered under the Nazis as much as any did and who lost millions to the same death camps. Pathetic really.
#1.4 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:09 AM EDT
I am not an Obama fan, but I think the Polish leadership overracted to this one. Everyone but the Iranians knows that they were German death camps. Obama was just refering to it's location.
#1.5 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:12 AM EDT
Whether American, Polish or otherwise. Conservatives hate Barrack Obama and will jump on anything to better their Neocon agenda against Barry come November period.
#1.6 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:12 AM EDT
For those of you Obama apologists, who think the Poles were in line with the nazis....Google Katyn Forrest Massacre.
#1.7 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:14 AM EDT
I am not an Obama fan, but I think the Polish leadership overracted to this one. Everyone but the Iranians knows that they were German death camps. Obama was just refering to it's location.But saying Polish death camps implies ownership. They were German death camps located in occupied Poland. It was a gaff that slandered the Polish people who fought and died fighting the Nazis.
Comment collapsed by the community
political slant of the source. The far-right is screaming for blood, but they always are.A pathetic attempt to try and bring US politics into an issue of historical truth and accuracy.
The Poles don't care about US politics.
They do care that Obama once again put his foot in his mouth.
You do recall 'dr' that the Germans invaded Poland?
Sept. 1, 1939. Caused a bit of a war, as I recall.
Obama is an oaf, who refers to the "Marine Corpse", thinks that there are 57 states, and doesn't know what year to write in Her Majesty's guestbook.
Obama is the most inept, unqualified and ignorant POTUS in US history.#1.11 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:20 AM EDT
Thank you Dr. Hurd for making the same comment I would have made. History is not pretty, but cannot be covered up to fit an agreed upon convent narrative when that is not true. The facts are that anti-Semitic attitudes were raging across Eastern Europe at the time and the Nazis found plenty of support in Poland and elsewhere at the time.
#1.13 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:23 AM EDT
hey, yanno, obama is known for his blunders. take a look (if you remember) his speech in front of the royal banquet about a year ago; while the traditional music was played, he was still talking. not enough sense to wait until the music was finished playing, no, obama tried talking above the musical band. the royal parties were trying to keep from laughing at obama as he made a fool of himself in front of them. also, while in ireland looking for his mother's roots, his escort suddenly developed tire problems, causing obama's vehicle to skid to a sudden stop infront of irish well wishers. he was a laughing stock there too. don't know how many people saw these incidents but they were televised. anyways, obama has no sense and it is quite obvious every time he opens his mouth. i side with tommy, obama is wrong to bring up this memory when he is wrong. can't wait till November!
#1.14 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:24 AM EDT
Get a clue! To say there was widespread Polish collaboration at places like Auschwitz is ignorance and agenda. Yes, there was anti-semitism in Poland, just as there is anti-semitism everywhere today. But there's a big leap between anti-semitism and shipping people off in cattle cars to be gassed. There's a difference between anti-semitism and systemized genocide. And Jabber_wolf, there were no Polish death camps. What an absolute idiot.
#1.15 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:27 AM EDT
Wow good to see how many dumb, ignorant, uneducated people are voicing their worthless opinions this morning. I am a Polish American, My grandmother was abducted by Nazi's into Auschwitz, she was not Jewish neither were hundreds of friends and family members she had that perished at the hand of the Natzis. My great grandfather helped smuggle Jews out of the country for three years straight. I'm also an Obama supporter and just because he misstated one thing doesn't make him incompetent or ignorant.. Relax Pollacks
Hurd and Jabber wolf-- just because you quote a fact-less book means absolutely nothing and does not make your stupid opinion and more valid.
#1.17 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:34 AM EDTHurd and Jabber wolf-- just because you quote a fact-less book means absolutely nothing and does not make your stupid opinion and more valid.
"Obama is the most inept, unqualified and ignorant POTUS in US history."
GW Bush would have called it a Polak Death Camp and Romney would have told us a story about how his ancestors made it out of the Polish Death Camp in the same fashion in that "saw his Dad march with MLK".
#1.18 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:34 AM EDTGW Bush would have called it a Polak Death Camp and Romney would have told us a story about how his ancestors made it out of the Polish Death Camp in the same fashion in that "saw his Dad march with MLK".
Over one million Catholic Poles were killed by the Nazi's, for helping to hide Polish Jews; the Catholics and Jews of Poland had lived side by side for 700 years, the Polish Knights that stopped the Muslim Invasion in the 14th Century had a Jewish brigade; were some Poles Nazis , yes, were some Americans Nazis Yes, future Pope John Paul, fought the Nazis at every turn while a young solider in the polish army, Obama miss-spoke, however his narcissism will not allow him to admit a mistake.
#1.19 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:38 AM EDT
Hardtostarboard,
#1.20 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:39 AM EDT(Bataan Death March) not the JapaneseDude, you just proved his point. Bataan is a region in the Philippines, so an atrocity of the Japanese is named after the region it occurred, hence Bataan death march. So a death camp IN Poland, by your own logic, should be called a Polish death camp...unless you're so blinded by hatred of Obama you can't even follow your own logic
If you're having to resort to comparing Obama with Bush, I'd say that Obama is pretty piss-poor as his replacement.
#1.21 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:43 AM EDT
Sounds like a Polish Death Camp to me.
#1.22 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:44 AM EDT"The President missspoke"This is obvious, but SOMEONE should have caught this obvious gaffe before it was delivered (if no one else, the President himself).
This goes back to vetting (or the lack of it). We still don't know what classes the president took in all his schooling or how well he did in them. All we read is how smart he is, but for some reason he's guarded his transcripts like the vaults at Fort Knox. Having seen him stumble without a teleprompter, I sometimes wonder if he is as brilliant as everyone gives him credit for being.
Obama made a blunder...it happens, get over it.
I've disagreed with almost all of his economic policies because I have a different view on how markets work than he does, but I'm not going to make too much about an obvious misstatement. Try having everything you say every day scrutinized by the entire world...all of us will occasionally make (big) blunders like this one.
#1.24 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:54 AM EDTI've disagreed with almost all of his economic policies because I have a different view on how markets work than he does, but I'm not going to make too much about an obvious misstatement. Try having everything you say every day scrutinized by the entire world...all of us will occasionally make (big) blunders like this one.
hey! obama is a man with vast...um..er, something I'm sure.
DUFUS is the only word that comes to mind at the momement
#1.25 - Wed May 30, 2012 10:55 AM EDTDUFUS is the only word that comes to mind at the momement
The far-right is screaming for blood, but they always are.True. They don't really care about the mistake past being sharks in a ocean of blood.
Mike-1499840 - maybe you should've Googled Katyn Forrest yourself before posting about it, since it has absolutely no bearing on whether the Poles were in bed with the Nazis. It was a massacre of Poles by Russians :D
Anyhow, it's silly to try and justify the quote by claiming that it's true and Obama meant it the way it was phrased. He obviously didn't and a spokesman made it clear he didn't and apologized for the poor phrasing. One difference between him and the last occupant of the White House, though, is that the verbal gaffes are few and far in between enough that they're noticeable when they occur. I guess right wingers didn't keep such a watch on Dubya's flood of verbal gaffes b/c it would've been a 24/7 occupation
#1.27 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:01 AM EDTAnyhow, it's silly to try and justify the quote by claiming that it's true and Obama meant it the way it was phrased. He obviously didn't and a spokesman made it clear he didn't and apologized for the poor phrasing. One difference between him and the last occupant of the White House, though, is that the verbal gaffes are few and far in between enough that they're noticeable when they occur. I guess right wingers didn't keep such a watch on Dubya's flood of verbal gaffes b/c it would've been a 24/7 occupation
"If you're having to resort to comparing Obama with Bush, I'd say that Obama is pretty piss-poor as his replacement."
Why? Is he not invading enough countries for no reason to meet your satisfaction?
#1.28 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:07 AM EDTWhy? Is he not invading enough countries for no reason to meet your satisfaction?
"If you're having to resort to comparing Obama with Bush, I'd say that Obama is pretty piss-poor as his replacement."He got Bin Laden, Bush II didn't. Nuff said.
jeffr,
odumbass wouldn't have gotten bin laden if it wasn't for Clinton AND Bush. More then nuff said.
#1.30 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:15 AM EDTodumbass wouldn't have gotten bin laden if it wasn't for Clinton AND Bush. More then nuff said.
Hey hardtostarboard,
You should know what you are talking about before you open your mouth. In the Navy they are called Corpsman not medics. If you are going to piss and moan about someone making mistakes you should make sure you are not making one.
#1.31 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:16 AM EDTYou should know what you are talking about before you open your mouth. In the Navy they are called Corpsman not medics. If you are going to piss and moan about someone making mistakes you should make sure you are not making one.
"Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called it a matter of "ignorance and incompetence." "
So what else is new?
#1.32 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:18 AM EDTSo what else is new?
"He" didn't get Bin Laden. The Honorable Navy Seals did. The order for this was given by Clinton, endorsed by Bush and Obama.
#1.33 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:19 AM EDT
Obama got Bin laden. I know you might want to go through the seven stages of denial, but it's time to accept it.
#1.34 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:20 AM EDT
Nope he got Bin Laden alright, like it or not. Just like Bush got Saddam. :) Difference is Bin Laden was the target. :D
#1.35 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:21 AM EDT
Bruce--
We still don't know what classes the president took in all his schooling--ARE YOU KIDDING ME in all his schooling-- Where are you from the 1800s.
When speaking of someone else's intelligence, please make sure you that you are actually smart enough to make them look dumb.
#1.36 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:24 AM EDTWe still don't know what classes the president took in all his schooling--ARE YOU KIDDING ME in all his schooling-- Where are you from the 1800s.
When speaking of someone else's intelligence, please make sure you that you are actually smart enough to make them look dumb.
It seems that Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, a former columnist for the National Review, a fellow at AEI and advisor to Rupert Murdoch, is playing with American politics. I think his "outrage" is pure scam.
What the far-right mob wants to shout down with this phoney controversy is that President Obama was honoring a Pole, and the Polish resistance.
#1.37 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:25 AM EDTWhat the far-right mob wants to shout down with this phoney controversy is that President Obama was honoring a Pole, and the Polish resistance.
For those of you Obama apologists, who think the Poles were in line with the nazis....Google Katyn Forrest Massacre.Maybe you should try googling it yourself...that massacre was carried out by Russians.
Methinks the Poles do protest too much. They know exactly what he meant. He was honoring a Polish resistance fighter for God's sake! A little too much overreaction begs the question why? Perhaps a bit of national guilt?
#1.39 - Wed May 30, 2012 11:37 AM EDT
It seems that Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, a former columnist for the National Review, a fellow at AEI and advisor to Rupert Murdoch, is playing with American politics. I think his "outrage" is pure scam.Does any of it surprise you? It's kind of like the manufactured outrage the Republitads are promoting right now on this thread. 99% of them could care less about Poland to begin with.
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