Poles Permit Take Down of Hijacked Planes

[Rose Siding]

WARSAW, Poland -- A new Polish law gives authorities the power to order hijacked airliners shot down -- a post-Sept. 11 measure that underscores growing terrorism concerns in Europe but drew criticism when enacted in Germany.

The law allows the defense minister or air force chief to order the downing of civilian or military aircraft whose hijackers refuse to land.

"This is certainly one of the hardest decisions which would have to be taken if such an event took place," Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said.

The law, which took effect Thursday, was introduced to meet "threats in the current world following the Sept. 11 tragedy," said Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Leszek Laszczak. "The fact we have never had such problems does not mean that we should not be prepared."

As a staunch U.S. ally in the war on Iraq and leader of the postwar international security force stationed near Baghdad, Poland has been threatened by extremist Islamic groups with revenge attacks on its soil. Another possible danger could come from Chechen separatists hijacking Russian airliners, many of which pass over Poland and Germany.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-europe-shootdown,0,2383997.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[uppityperson]

1. Enter obvious response here

staunch ally?

[LynnTheDem]

2. Never had hijackings before 911???

Strange. I'm pretty sure such things existed prior to 911.

"Staunch ally" for OIL;

Poland, which has sent troops to support the US-led forces in Iraq, has acknowledged its "ultimate objective" is to acquire supplies of Iraqi oil.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3043330.stm