The underlying message.

[ABC News] The latest threat came after a top Russian general said Poland would risk a military strike if it allowed the base and as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed Russia’s saber rattling, saying the threats “border on the bizarre.”

“When you threaten Poland, you perhaps forget that it is not 1988,” Rice said, according to The Associated Press. “It’s 2008 and the United States has a … firm treaty guarantee to defend Poland’s territory as if it was the territory of the United States. So it’s probably not wise to throw these threats around.”

Condi’s defense of Poland is both an important line in the sand and message of solidarity to other Eastern European allies. But it also seems to validate the quote of appeasement by Richard Holbrooke posted earlier today.

The U.S. seems to be saying, “You can have Georgia, but don’t go after Poland.” I recall similar messages regarding Czechoslovakia in 1938…