Washington wants to site 10 interceptor missiles in Poland as part of an extended defense shield against airborne attacks, along with a powerful tracking radar in the Czech Republic. "So it is really a defense instrument, missile defense instrument. And so I do hope that all this project, the whole project will be completed successfully," Kaczynski said through an interpreter. Russian President Vladimir Putin has never been mollified by that argument, and the Kremlin announced Saturday that he had signed a decree suspending Moscow's participation in a key post-Cold War security treaty.

Bush and Kaczynski also discussed US requirements that Poles traveling to the United States need a visa -- a sore point between the two allies, as Poland wants that requirement lifted. "It is in the hands of the Congress," said the Polish leader. "So we are looking forward to positive changes in this area." "I will continue to work with Congress to change a law that needs to be changed," said Bush. The US Senate earlier this year approved legislation adding Poles to the list of foreign nationals exempted from needing a visa to enter the United States, in recognition of Poland's support for the Iraq war and its European Union membership. Poles and other foreigners wishing to travel to the United States under the amended visa-free regime, which has yet to be approved by the US House of Representatives, need to have biometric passports.