Powell Praises Poland’s Contribution to Iraq Coalition

Truth News ^ | August 2, 2004 | David Gollust

[lizol]

Powell Praises Poland’s Contribution to Iraq Coalition

David Gollust, Voice of America, August 2, 2004

Secretary of State Colin Powell, ending a week-long European and Middle East trip in Warsaw, has praised Poland's role in the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. He discussed the future of the 2,400-member Polish contingent in talks with senior Polish officials, including President Aleksandr Kwasniewski and Prime Minister Marek Belka.

Poland, which commands a multi-national force of more that 6,000 peacekeeping soldiers in southern Iraq, has said it is counting on withdrawing a substantial number of its own troops early next year, after elections for a transitional Iraq government.

But in a news conference following talks with Mr. Powell, Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said this was not a withdrawal deadline, and that the Warsaw government's decision to stay or go will be based on security conditions in Iraq after the elections.

"We believe that that opens the possibility to reduce the number of military personnel of the coalition, and we hope that after the next year elections in the country, that it will also be possible in our case," said Mr. Cimoszewicz. "But, of course, let me underline very strongly that we understand very well our co-responsibility for the success of the mission of the coalition. We are commanding a multi-national division, and we know what it does mean. We strongly hope that things will move in a positive direction in Iraq, allowing us to implement this concept, this idea."

Poland has had seven members of its Iraq contingent killed by insurgents, the most recent one killed by a roadside bomb last week. Recent public opinion surveys indicate that three-out-of-four Poles oppose the Iraq presence.

Acknowledging that the mission has been expensive for Poland, Mr. Powell none-the-less made clear his hopes that the coalition will hang together long enough to see effective Iraqi security forces put in place, and the insurgency, if not defeated, then at least diminished.

"We hope that, as we move through this year, and get to the elections and beyond, the security situation will improve, the insurgency will be brought under better control, if not eliminated, and that Iraqi forces over the next six-to-eight months will be building up their capability," said Mr. Powell. "And, as we go through this period, we will have to examine on a continuing basis what our force requirements are, and work with each of our coalition partners, as they make their individual sovereign judgment, as to what their capacity is to support their presence in Iraq."

Mr. Powell, who described the U.S.-Polish relationship as excellent, said ties would be further improved by the opening of a strategic dialogue between the two countries to be inaugurated by a visit to Warsaw in September by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz reiterated his government's irritation over tighter U.S. immigration restrictions following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and said they particularly affect Poles, seeking to visit relatives and others in the huge Polish-American community.

The United States has already begun a program of pre-screening for Polish visitors, but the Polish foreign minister said more can be done to put Polish travelers in a more comfortable position.

Poland has sought the same no-visa status for its nationals that citizens of Japan and several West European countries enjoy for U.S. travel.

[maestro]

Powell Praises Poland?s Contribution to Iraq Coalition

Me too,.........'The Polka'.....

:-)

[propertius]

See he didn't praise the destruction of ancient relics and historical aretfacts at the Polish-run Camp Babylon. Helicopters taking off all the time have resulted in blowing off the of of a 3,000-year old temple...

Very glad the Poles are in Iraq but think the decision to set up a military camp right on unexcavated soil in the heart of the world's first civilisation was a tad ill-conceived...

[Michal]

I admire the Polish... Their military persons die because of the US government, but they cannot go without visas there. As a friend of mine - a phd student at the very top scientific institute in Germany willing to go for a scientific conference, invited by the US university... 'no way', he was not allowed to receive the US visa. Do you want to go to the US for a holiday? No way, 30% of the Polish do not receive the visa (without any reason, of course), just pay some $150 (1/2 of a price of a ticket!) and spend at least one day going to Warsaw... as I said - I admire the Polish they let the US treat them like that....

[lizol]

See this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1184216/posts

[struwwelpeter]

Lots of other countries worthy of an 'attaboy'. Above are some mirotvortsy (peacekeepers) in Kyiv on their way home from 90 days in southern Iraq.

Numbers of foreign soldiers in Iraq, from MSNBC (08/03/2004):

United States 138,000  
Britain 8,530 
Albania 70 
Australia 850 
Azerbaijan 150 
Bulgaria 455 
Czech Rep. 92 
Denmark 510 
Dominican Rep. 300 
El Salvador 360 
Estonia 55 
Georgia 150 
Hungary 300 
Italy 2,700 
Japan 1,000 
Kazakhstan 25 
Latvia 120 
Lithuania 105 
Macedonia 28 
Moldova 25 
Mongolia 180 
Netherlands 1,263 
New Zealand 60 
Nicaragua 115 
Norway 150 
Poland 2,400 
Portugal 120 
Romania 730 
Singapore 200 
Slovakia 105 
South Korea 675 (3,000 on way) 
Thailand 460 
Tonga 44 
Ukraine 1,700 

Of course, they'll likely be pulled out before the Ukrainian elections October 31st.

[kaiser80]

Recent public opinion surveys indicate that three-out-of-four Poles oppose the Iraq presence.

Yes, indeed, but on the other hand 1/2 is against our withdrawal. So the Poles are not happy that our troops are in Iraq but if we are there let us finish what we have started. I think it's a fair position. PS. nobody is happy putting the troops at rist but if we decided to go there we simply can't withdraw. That is a huge difference

[Grzegorz 246]

Actually this military camp was built by U.S. Marines.

[Spirited]

Thank you for the clarification, Grzegorz.
That is exactly what I thought had happened!

Unfortunate to have to take the heat and the danger and be "pot shotted" for something that was someone else's decision by assignment.