Poland 'willing to stay in Iraq' (Poland bump)

cnn.com ^

[bogdanPolska12]

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- Poland has vowed not to pull troops out of Iraq because of "terrorist" attacks and said it was willing to remain in command of a stabilisation force there if Spain, which had been due to take over, withdrew.

[tiamat]

Our Polish Friends!

Thank you!

;-)

[Argus]

The Poles perhaps retain a more vivid memory of what happens when the civilized world tries to appease a bunch of fascist murderers instead of fighting them.

[StarCMC]

Long live Poland!

[arkfreepdom]

You would think that the Spaniards and their Franco history would have taught them something.

[68skylark]

You know, there are some times in life when you discover who your friends really are.

The good people of the U. S. are lucky to have the friendship of the good people of Poland. This means a lot to us.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent!

New Europe weighing in!!!!

See this:

We go with the Americans and the British (Romanian editorial)

See this also:

However we have some excellent news here:

Report Details Saddam's Support for Terrorists Who Killed Americans

The above link is the FreeRepublic discussion thread.

The actual article is :

"Saddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror"

It is a pdf document with substantial footnotes and put together by Dewey Murdock of the Hudson Institute.

[bogdanPolska12]

Thank you all. If something happens in my country gloves will be off. Spain has chose its own socialist destiny. It is their choice nothing we can do we have to move on. Once again we are alone in Europe but far in other side of Ocean we have powerful ally. Whatever these murders think of doing they better have some serious look at Poland history -- basically we don't take crop. We fought wars for centuries some were successful some were unsuccessful but we have prevail and we will prevail this one also. And there will be no looking back. They want a war they will get one.

[Snuffington]

The Spanish withdrawal from Iraq reminds me of a scene from Shakespeare's Henry V. Just before battle, Henry tells his frightened men:

...proclaim it ... through my host, That he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made And crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us.

Impolitic as it may be, it would be quite something to see our president make a similar offer to Spain and any other allies. All those who want out, we'll be happy to arrange it. We'll pay for your transport. "We would not die in any nation's company that fears its fellowship to die with us." Only translated into Texan of course. ;-)

Poland and others would play the role of those who stayed whom Henry praises to the skies, telling them those who weren't there would " ...hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us" on that day.

The manhood of Poland and Spain stands a study in contrast today.

[Vic3O3]

To the good people of Poland--thank you for your support! Remain strong. Remain vigilant. Evil most often comes like a thief in the night. Remember we stand with you!

[White Eagle]

It's part of the racial history. My grandfather came to the US from Poland around 1914. he went back once, in the late 1950's. When he returned, he brought back pictures of the Nazi camps in Poland. Even when it got cleaned up 10+ years later, it was a gruesome thing to see. Left quite an impression on this 8-year old.

[Spok]

Poland 'willing to stay in Iraq'

Anything less would have surprised me. Not even the jokes question the Poles' courage.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks, my friend, for posting this good news from our Polish Allies!

The Romanians are with Poland and us!

We go with the Americans and the British (Romanian editorial)
Evenimentul Zilei ^ | 2/18/03 | Cornel Nistorescu


Posted on 02/18/2003 3:21:24 PM PST by jalisco555


Once more, perhaps at a decisive moment, Romania has to choose. Which card will it play these days? With the United States or France and Germany? Our political class expressed its standpoint in parliament. If the Americans request it we will send troops to Iraq! But it is our politicians who beat about the bush as well. We are not and we will not be at war! Moreover, last week a communiqué was issued in which they said that "Romania declares itself again a supporter of the role of the European Union, of NATO and United Nations in defending international security". Frightened probably by the disputes in the Security Council, our politicians said it was time to sweeten the pill. That is we support the Americans but without disappointing those who do not agree to a military intervention in Iraq! This is a pacifism which can be considered as satisfying everybody, but also as being a first step to return to the behaviour of a political whore. This means that it is not still clear in our mind what our national interest is. This time (we were not pressed as we were between the two World Wars) we can choose freely. And we did so by the vote of our MPs. Why are we beating about the bush? We can't afford that anymore! We played with Romania's stand on such matters too many times and we lost. The wounds and the weaknesses left by the communism do not allow us to hesitate anymore. We are not France which, apart from the classical dance on its own in international politics (and nobody calls it a "political whore"), took wagons of money out of Iraq. We do not have a few million Muslims to pretend. We are not a country to play three lovers on the fingers! We do not have the status of a lady with pretensions. We did not have a Napoleon to collect treasures from everywhere. We left Iraq empty-handed and having a debt of 1.7 billion lei to Romania. We are not Germany either. The Russians squeezed us out of our riches while Germany was like a kept mistress after the war (but was not addressed offensive words either). We cannot afford playing the part of cavillers at UN when a totalitarian regime is involved. What do we have to do with the populist theatre of Gerhard Schroeder who, in order not to be ousted because of empty electoral promises and the troubled economic situation in his country, is speculating on his fellow countrymen's fear of war. Shall we play Romania's cards counting on the speech of Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher who won 8 percent of the votes of the German electorate? This means to rely on a guy like Basescu! Heaven forbid!

We can ask ourselves what France and Germany did in 50 years of communism for all the countries in the Eastern bloc. The answer is simple: nothing else than business! To us, who were moaning in the prisons of communism, they sent only friendly greetings. The Germans also did something else. They took their fellow nationals, brought them back home, and left us manage on our own. In what judicial or procedural pretext they got stuck over this period? Communism wrung our neck while the honourable democracies issued communiqués. And now they are surprised that all the countries in the former communist bloc do not give a damn about obsolete stratagems of France and Germany. Only they, in their games behind the scene, can make all sorts of mean calculations though many of their citizens were killed in all sorts of attacks. How many others have to die in the USA, in the Paris subway or in other crowded places so that France and Germany react firmly against the countries which supply terrorism? We can no longer afford going into this game of procedures, of diplomatic duplicity only to be the fools and the sacrificed of the region in the end.

Romania needs stringently the support of the most powerful democracy. And it is about to get a firm support. We have to respond to it in the same way. We go with the Americans and we make efforts to be their alternative for the old Europe. It costs us, but we no longer depend on the French illusionism or the German fears. Besides, we have a chance to demonstrate that we got rid of all the doubts of a country ruled with irresolution. We also have the chance to recover our debt from Iraq. Moreover, we have to imagine that a large part of the most brilliant Romanian young people, who emigrated to the USA and Canada, are about to follow Bush. Romania needs to make a clear choice, either USA or France and Germany. When making this choice we have to take one more thing into account. We are not a priority for the two European countries. They already see us as the fifth wheel of the coach, which cost them enormously (not to say that sometimes they see us as thieves, Gypsies or beggars). Instead, we are really important for the Americans. In this dispute we offer them an alternative to go in the long run with a country which needs the know-how of democracy. Not it is the time to go with the Americans all the way, even if they might be wrong. And with the British too. Now it is the time to take into consideration what the leader of the Conservative Party, Ion Lahovary, the father of Martha Bibescu, once said: "A coalition joined by England always gets a victory". We have had enough failures with France and Germany!

[Vic3O3]

Bogdan, that's some neat looking camo BDU's the Polish troops are wearing!

[Fiddlstix]

YES! Thank you Poland!
C

[Dr Snide]

God bless the Poles. I think they are smart to throw their lot in with the U.S., I mean they are still stuck between Germany and Russia which traditionally is not the place to be. Lets move our bases from Germany to Poland, The Germans don't want us, fine defend yourselves from now on, we're taking our money where freedom, liberty, and self-defense are still valued, Poland, Rommania and "New Europe"

[Ebenezer]

For centuries, the resolve of the Polish people has been tested by fire. Domination by Imperial Austria-Hungary and Czarist Russia, followed by tyranny of the worst kind under BOTH Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. And yet, their faith and patriotism stood firm.

SOLIDARITY!

[bogdanPolska12]

Hey Mateusz. Dzieki za zdjecia. Dostalem od Ciebie email pozniej odpisze.

In respect to our American friends I will switch to English. Zapata is already saying he will align his policies with frogs and Germans so you know what that means already. Miller is already saying they are going to look for other solutions. Maybe we will be able to count on England but I doubt that. What irks me is we fought our butts for England and France and it looks like their memory is very short.

Hope everything is good with you Matt.