Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has dismissed comments from Russian officials who say Poland's decision to accept a U.S. missile defense base exposes the country to attack.

Rice has told reporters that such comments "border on the bizarre."

She said Wednesday that the "the Cold War is over." She added that the U.S. has a "firm treaty to guarantee" to defend Poland's territory as if it were its own and said making such threats is "probably not wise."

Rice added that the "Russians are losing their credibility" and that Moscow would pay a price for its actions in Georgia. Rice declined to be specific in the comments made after signing the missile defense agreement with Poland.