Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today sought to quell concerns from the Polish government about the Obama Administration backing out of the Bush Administration’s pledged missile defense base in the eastern European nation.

“We have a very long and deep relationship with Poland and the Polish government and the Polish people,” Clinton told reporters today, adding “as members of NATO we take seriously our alliance commitment.”

The Polish government has repeatedly warned the Obama Administration not to abandon the deal, warning it could damage US-Polish ties. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski cited the threat of Russian missiles as a reason the controversial system would have to stay, though ostensibly the base was directed at Iran and not Russia.

Yet as officials scramble to placate the Polish administration’s outrage at the potential “broken promise,” Polish news agency PAP issued a poll showing that Poles weren’t so hot on the whole missile base idea to begin with. The poll showed only 22 percent in favor of installing elements of the shield in Poland.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• Homegrown US 'Terror Plots' Drop, But Nation Still 'On Edge' - February 9th, 2012
• Amputations Soared Among US Troops in 2011 - February 9th, 2012
• US Still Can't Find Missing Libyan Missiles - February 9th, 2012
• Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: Let Us Form Government - February 9th, 2012
• As Reports of Violence Grow in Syria, So Do Western Calls for Intervention - February 9th, 2012