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Marching valiantly into the quagmire (Poles may withdraw from Iraq; Hungary, Bulgaria also on edge)
Janes Defence ^ | 19 May 04 | Janes Defence

Posted on 05/19/2004 11:14:34 PM PDT by churchillbuff

Intriguing but unconfirmed rumours have reached Foreign Report that may have far-reaching consequences for the Coalition operation in Iraq, as well as Britain's domestic politics.

According to the report, secret discussions may be under way concerning the Polish-commanded south-central multinational military division. There has been continuous speculation that the Poles, one of the biggest contingents in the Coalition force, will withdraw.

While for the moment they are saying they will not follow the Spanish example, they have called for a "progressive reduction" of their 2,400 troops, as casualties rise (three dead, as well as their top war correspondent) and public opposition grows.

Following the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and betting on the likelihood that the security situation will get even worse, other staunch US allies in the new Europe are also rapidly distancing themselves from the Bush administration.

In Hungary, former prime minister and opposition leader Viktor Orban, who had hitherto supported Hungary's role in Iraq, called operations there "morally unsustainable". The Hungarian government has agreed to review its commitment, which currently stands at 300 troops. Bulgaria's troops, six of which have been killed, are increasingly restive: 24 soldiers had to be sent home recently after complaining about their mission and another 15 who were due to return to their country in August have already quit. Ukraine's resolve is also wavering after four of its soldiers were killed in action.

Spain's 1,300 troops, eight of whom have died, will be gone by 1 June, leaving a big hole in the Coalition's forces around the holy city of Najaf, home to radical anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The USA has asked Britain to fill the vacuum, it currently commands the southern sector, has 8,700 troops stationed in Iraq and has suffered 59 casualties. It appears that Britain will comply, although its own military planners are less than happy.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: allies; handover; iraq; iraqicoalition; multinational; poland

1 posted on 05/19/2004 11:14:34 PM PDT by churchillbuff
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To: churchillbuff

Of course, leaving Saddam in power was perfectly sustainable morally.


2 posted on 05/20/2004 12:15:38 AM PDT by blandbutmarvellous
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To: churchillbuff

And leaving the country to dissolve into murderous chaos is also perfectly sustainable morally.


3 posted on 05/20/2004 12:17:45 AM PDT by blandbutmarvellous
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To: churchillbuff

And abandoning an ally that freed your own country from totalitarian occupation is perfectly morally sustainable.


4 posted on 05/20/2004 12:19:56 AM PDT by blandbutmarvellous
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To: blandbutmarvellous

bump


5 posted on 05/20/2004 7:35:22 AM PDT by churchillbuff
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To: churchillbuff
"There has been continuous speculation that the Poles, one of the biggest contingents in the Coalition force, will withdraw."

It is BS. Polish soldiers will stay in Iraq for sure till the end of this year(all 2400). In next year it depend on situation - but the same said G.W.Bush in last week.
40% of population is for keeping our troops in Iraq. Most of those who are against say that it just cost too much.
We pay about 100 million USD a year on Iraqi mission.

I don't know why in American media you hear all the time that Poland will withdraw troops from Iraq. It is not our fault.
6 posted on 05/20/2004 7:58:01 AM PDT by Grzegorz 246
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To: Grzegorz 246

Janes Defence is from U.K. and it's one of the most important "civilian intellignece" services in the world. Even military analysts and servicemen are using their books as a support. BTWm they did't say that Poland would withdraw from Iraq, but it thinks of doing so. And it's true that the support for staying in Iraq have risen (!) after two journalists and two soldiers were killed about two weeks ago. I don't think we will withdraw by the end of this year, it's unthinakble!

Regards


7 posted on 05/20/2004 8:30:53 AM PDT by SpikeMike (Even a stopped clock, gives the right time, twice a day....)
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To: churchillbuff

I somehow doubt the Poles will withdraw.

Time will tell, I suppose.


8 posted on 05/20/2004 9:06:52 AM PDT by King Prout (the difference between "trained intellect" and "indoctrinated intellectual" is an Abyssal gulf)
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To: churchillbuff

If this actually happens, I guess they'll need a new "Coalition of the Willing".

Not to mention, the Congress and White House will have to change their menus again. Freedom sausage, anyone?


9 posted on 05/20/2004 1:20:14 PM PDT by alpowolf
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To: SpikeMike
"I don't think we will withdraw by the end of this year, it's unthinkable!"

I know, but I just wanted to show you that politics sometimes have to say some strange opinions.
It is the fact that Polish PM said about tree weeks ago that we "consider" withdraw our troops from Iraq but it is almost as unthinkable as withdrawing(?) US troops from Iraq.

Almost all informations about Poland in foreign media (US, UK, French and others) is that Poland consider withdraw soldiers from Iraq. At least for me it is not normal situation. I live in this country all my life and I know that we won't withdraw our soldiers from Iraq - at least not earlier than in a year.
I have also read in some foreign source that former Polish PM was very unpopular because of sending our soldiers to Iraq. It's just not true. For us much more important is for example very high unemployment.

As I said about 40% population is for keeping our troops in Iraq, about the same number is against.
However many people say it is shame that Polish soldiers have to ask US soldiers for help when there are big problems(because they don't have heavy equipment and air support) in Polish sector. They say that our soldiers should fight on first line. I have the same opinion.
10 posted on 05/20/2004 1:57:20 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
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To: Grzegorz 246

Hi everyone!
I'm a new one here, this is my first post on this forum (and in the net generally), so - be indulgent if I do something incorrectly (I hope You'll read this at all).

Going back to the context - I'm a Polish too and - as Grzegorz 246 - I also hope, that we won't withdraw from Iraq as long as we are needed there. Unfortunately - the decision will be not up to us - like me or Grzegorz - but up to our politicians. Thanks God - our reasonable political elites are quite uniform on that topic and they agree, that Polish troops should stay in Iraq. Some even say, that this might be a reason, why the Al-Queda hasn't attacked Poland yet, like they did in Spain - because they can't count on the Polish political opposition to withdraw from Iraq in case of winning future election.
But - on the other hand, we have quite tense political situation here - weak, government going to fall within days or weeks (which is good, because they're leftists) and groving support for a very populist party (political barbarians actually), which announces withdrawal from Iraq in case of winnig the election. The social ground for that is surely not the "Iraq issue" but general discouragement of my compatriots to our traditional political elites.
So - nobody knows what's going to happen here within following months and what influence it will have on our role in Iraq.
I wish I could say decidedly, that Polish troops will stay on the line as long as needed. Unfortunately - I can't exclude the possibility, that in a few months I'll be ashamed in the face of our American friends and allies, because some idiot will decide to run away.


11 posted on 05/21/2004 12:28:10 PM PDT by lizol
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To: lizol

Witam!
Niestety obawiam sie, ze twoj komentarz przeczyta niewiele osob. Komentowane sa przewaznie biezace artykuly w ciagu kilku, kilkunastu godzin od publikacji.
Ja rowniez jestem zarejestrowany od niedawna - od okolo miesiaca.
To bardzo ciekawe forum. Twoj komentarz byl bardzo dobry, ale jak na tutejsze warunki troche zbyt wywazony. Czesto dominuja tu komentarze w stylu "zabic Arabow" , "zabic komuchow" itp.
Niedawno usuneli dziwnego uzytkownika z Polski.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1127424/posts

Mam nadzieje, ze nie jestes jego kolejnym wcieleniem.


12 posted on 05/22/2004 9:36:46 AM PDT by Grzegorz 246
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To: Grzegorz 246

Nie. Jakis czas temu wedrowalem sobie poszukujac czegos o Polakach w Iraku i wpadlem na to forum. Od jakiegos miesiaca tylko czytalem, a teraz postanowilem wlaczyc sie do dyskusji. Chyba nie wypada dalej po polsku w towarzystwie.
Sorry - that's all in POlish


13 posted on 05/22/2004 9:45:43 AM PDT by lizol
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To: churchillbuff

I think Berkeley is a quagmire.
US forces have unilaterally occupied the region since 1847, yet enemy resistance continues to flourish.

While we're at it, when will the forces stationed at Ft. Hood launch their long-awaited to liberate hippy-occupied Austin?


14 posted on 05/22/2004 11:30:10 AM PDT by atomic conspiracy (A few words for the media: Julius Streicher, follow his path, share his fate.)
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