Warsaw Assembles Multinational Peacekeeping Force for Polish-Led Iraq Sector

AP Breaking ^ | Jun 6, 2003 | Andrzej Stylinski Associated Press Writer

[Kaslin]

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Poland has assembled a 7,000-strong multilateral force for peacekeeping in Iraq, with participation from more than a dozen countries, the Defense Ministry announced Friday.

The Polish-led force will have the task of maintaining order and helping establish new civilian authorities in a zone covering central and southern parts of Iraq. Its headquarters will be near the city of Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad.

Britain and the United States will command forces in two other zones.

Some countries also pledged to send officers to the Polish-led force's headquarters, said the ministry statement, released after a five-day, private conference of participants. Poland declined to identify the nations that will take part, leaving the announcement to them.

Poland will provide 2,200 officers and troops and 45 percent of the command staff. Bulgaria has pledged 500 troops, Ukraine up to 1,800; and Romania, 150. Denmark has offered 10 officers, and Norway six officers, a company of engineers and mine-removal experts.

The force is expected to deploy by the end of August.

Poland contributed nearly 200 troops to the U.S.-led war in Iraq and has become a leading U.S. ally in eastern Europe. Jointly with Ukraine, Poland also has headed a peacekeeping force in Kosovo since July 2000

[DEPUTYMAYTAG]

Bravo!

[Principled]

Seems that those who have been recently liberated are happy to help.

"Recently" apparently means since 1945.

[Kaisersrsic]

You mean: Bravoski!

[Navy Patriot]

Another step in the right direction. good news.

[TigerLikesRooster]

What happened to Germans who are supposed to join this multinational force ? I guess that Germans bailed, because they do not want to be under the command of Poles.

[Malesherbes]

Bardzo dobrze!

Germany was offered a chance, a way to come gracefully back into the fold, but refused to take orders from Polish officers. So it will stay in the deep-freeze. (I noticed on German TV that German officers do not want to serve with the French in the Congo either, because they are not used to the environment.)

[Kaslin]

Seems that those who have been recently liberated are happy to help.

"Recently" apparently means since 1945.

I would think it means from communism

[Cheapskate]

YUP , Ya just gotta love it!

[yonif]

Poland has suffered a long time with a past under Nazism and Communism. It truly understands what it means to be free.

[oldcomputerguy]

Quite a sign of respect, I would say, to give Poland this command.
I was deeply moved when I heard about it.

[Dusty Rose]

Bravoskovicz! Polish bump.

[Sparta]

The Polish Commandos fought very well in Operation Iraqi Freedom, they'll do well here.

[ppaul]

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