Bush and Polish PM see progress on missile shield deal

By Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush pledged on Monday to help modernize Poland's military as part a U.S. effort to secure agreement for basing components of a global missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.

White House talks between Bush and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk made progress toward removing a key stumbling block in negotiations on stationing 10 missile interceptors on Polish soil.

Poland, the biggest NATO member from the former Warsaw Pact, has demanded that Washington help upgrade its military in exchange for hosting part of the anti-missile system, which has added to strains between Washington and Moscow.

"The United States recognizes the need for Polish forces to be modernized," Bush told reporters. "And we're responding."

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said negotiations were focused on improving Poland's air defenses.

Bush promised that U.S. experts would come up with a military modernization plan "before my watch is over." He leaves office in January 2009.

But he acknowledged there is a lot of work still to be done on Poland's role in the missile defense system, and U.S. and Polish officials have said it could take months more to finalize a deal.

Bush again downplayed Moscow's concerns about the missile shield, saying, "This system is not aimed at Russia. I will continue to work with President (Vladimir) Putin and give him those assurances as well."