REUTERS/ US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton witnessed the signing of an agreement in Krakow that sets-up a permanent US missile base as part of a defense shield that Russia opposes. Clinton said the agreement would "protect Poland and our allies from evolving threats, such as those from Iran". She added: "This is purely a defensive system. It is not directed at Russia. It does not threaten Russia."
On the eve of its presidential run-off, Clinton held the country up as a model democracy that emerged from Soviet domination strong enough to survive an air crash that killed its president, military leaders and many lawmakers in April.
