Posted on 10/18/2004 8:32:36 AM PDT by lizol
WARSAW Poland's support of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq is hindering the modernization of its armed forces as costs continue to increase for its 2,500 troops and their equipment in Iraq, according to senior defense officials. . Janusz Zemke, Poland's deputy defense minister and state secretary for defense, said in an interview that Poland had sent some of its best soldiers and equipment to Iraq since taking over the command of a multinational force in the central zone in September 2003. All the troops deployed are professional, he said. . "We simply will not be able to squeeze more of our own budget for military procurement," Zemke said. "At the same time, these huge outlays for Iraq are delaying the final transformation of our armed forces. It is a fundamental problem." . His remarks coincide with growing calls by opposition parties to bring home the troops as soon as possible. Prime Minister Marek Belka told Parliament last Friday that Poland might be able to start withdrawing troops early next year. . Zemke added: "I can't give you a final date when we will leave Iraq. It will be a process of phasing down. It will be fully dependent on the situation in Iraq. My wish is that the final date would be the end of 2005." . Zemke said it was costing Poland $100 million a year to keep the troops in Iraq. That did not include costs for sending and maintaining equipment. Poland had sent its one and only state-of-the art field hospital to Iraq and 40 percent of its night-vision devices. It recently sent 700 specialized vehicles, including ambulances.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Maybe we should outsource our jobs to Poland, and other nations that are helping in the war?
Maybe we should just stop giving foreign aid to countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, etc. and give the money to countries who are willing to help in our fight.
And which candidate/politician, if any, do you think would go for that? I'm all for it...they are either with us, or against us....
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