POLISH PRESIDENT KILLED – AT 10:10 A.M. ET:  From The New York Times:

MOSCOW — A plane carrying the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, and dozens of the country’s top political and military leaders crashed in a heavy fog in western Russia on Saturday morning, killing everyone aboard.

Television showed chunks of flaming fuselage scattered in a bare forest near Smolensk, where the president was arriving for a ceremony commemorating the murder of more than 20,000 Polish officers by the Soviet secret police after the Red Army invaded Poland.

COMMENT:  It is a staggering blow to Poland, as much of its political elite was wiped out. 

President Obama showed disrespect for Poland last year when he cancelled a missile-defense program that the Poles, under threat of Russian disapproval, agreed to host.  Now, Mr. President, is the time for the grand gesture.  Can you understand that?  You must personally lead the American delegation to the funeral, as DeGaulle led the French delegation after the assassination of President Kennedy.  You don't just send Biden in a case like this.

April 10,  2010