'The Future Is No Visa'

It was a friendly meeting at the White House yesterday between Presidents Bush and Kwasniewski. Warsaw is emerging as one of Washington's most steadfast and helpful European allies in the war on terror, and Mr. Bush and his Polish counterpart appeared to be trying to help each other out.

The Polish president backed Mr. Bush up on the question of weapons of mass destruction, pointing out that it wasn't just American intelligence, but international authorities like the predecessor of the United Nation's Hans Blix who believed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction capabilities. "Many months before Iraqi action, I met [the] predecessor of Hans Blix in Warsaw," Mr. Kwasniewski said. "I invited him to my palace, and we discussed about mass destruction weapons, Iraq and everything. And he told me [a] very important thing, that Saddam has these weapons or is ready to produce these weapons. Because to have such [an] impression that he has mass destruction weapons [as] part of his doctrine to keep own power in Iraq and to be strong in the region."

Mr. Bush, for his part, said he was ready to discuss military aid to Poland. "In my '05 budget request there is a $66 million request to help the Polish military, particularly with airlift capacity, C-130 aircraft. The Polish army is a sophisticated, fine group of soldiers. And one area where Poland needs some help is capacity to move those soldiers, and we look forward to helping the government do that," Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Kwasniewski pressed the point about making it easier for Polish citizens to come to America without onerous and costly special visas. Mr. Bush mentioned a study group and the possibility for "some pre-screening to make sure that Polish citizens headed to the United States are not inconvenienced." And he passed the buck to the legislative branch, saying, "Let me make sure everybody understands: The Congress decides the visa policy. That's what the Congress decides."

Well, Mr. Bush owes the Poles a bit better than that. The Congress is controlled by Mr. Bush's own Republican Party, and if the president wanted to expend a scintilla of political capital on the issue, he no doubt could bring Congress along.

"I would like to deliver this idea to you and to our friends. The future of the world is without visa, not with visa. That should be our goal," the Polish president said. If Congress and Mr. Bush achieve that goal with respect to Polish visitors to America, they'll be sending a message to the rest of the world that America remembers and rewards its friends.