Posted on 12/15/2004 11:15:24 AM PST by jb6
Look, I'm a conservative and I voted for Bush. But I sure as heck don't drink the Bush kool-aid. Iraq may have been up to know good, but they weren't about to take over the western world. They couldn't even take over Kuwait!
Yeah, well... despite his heroism and leadership, it seems he only bought Europe a few centuries.
You're judging a people you know nothing about.
I said the article is not an accurate reflection of the majority of Polish sentiment. I guess you disagree.
If you reread the article, you can see that the issue is mainly about the visas.
You must have read a different article than the one posted:
Polish disenchantment is rooted in bruised pride and money. More than 70 percent of Poles opposed the Iraq war, but they believed Washington would reward them with huge oil and reconstruction contracts.
Instead, Polish companies have about $70 million in rebuilding contracts and a $13 million weapons deal with the Iraqi army.
Government officials are also negotiating a $100 million deal for Poland to modernize Iraqi tanks. These contracts and U.S. investment in Poland are far lower than what Poles expected.
I didn't write that.
Secondly, Iraq is hardly a war to save western civilzation. Gimme a break!
It’s about defeating international terrorism and the nations that sponsor/harbor them. The same goals as the rest of the internationl war on terrorism. I guess in your mind, it’s all about oil.
If the Poles feel underappreciated, wait'll they see what we do to the Kurds.
"Look, I'm a conservative and I voted for Bush. But I sure as heck don't drink the Bush kool-aid. Iraq may have been up to know good, but they weren't about to take over the western world. They couldn't even take over Kuwait!"
***
Stop drinking the tunnel vision kool-aid. Iraq could not conventionally invade anyone, true, but they were supporting terrorist organizations (including Al Qaeda) that could at some point detonate nukes in major western cities for failing to convert to Islam or just because. Does THAT qualify as a threat to Western Civilization?
Read a book called "The Connection" by Stephen Hayes before poo-pooing me.
It sounds to me like it's another problem with the State Dept. The visa issue is an easy fix for some low level houseplant at State, but they're not paying attention, as usual. Steering Polish companies in the right direction for better contracts is still a houseplant issue, just higher up.
Phone-calls and letters to Congressmen and Senators would help.
Where are the big Polish communities in the U.S. and who are their Congressmen?
"Contracts in Iraq... Until Iraqi government was created Polish companies didn't get any contracts. Main reason of recently signed contracts is that Polish weapon and other products are quite good and quite cheap, other reason is that Iraqi deputy defense minister and a few other members of Iraqi government studied in Poland in 70's and 80's, speak Polish and probably have some informal connections with some of our government's agencies."
Iraq to buy 131 mln usd worth of military hardware from Poland
AFX ^ | Monday December 13
Posted on 12/13/2004 1:34:07 PM PST by Grzegorz 246
WARSAW (AFX) - Iraq will purchase 131 mln usd worth of military hardware from Poland, Iraqi deputy defense minister Ziad Catan said. Catan said the signing of a contract for the delivery of some 30 helicopters, troop transport vehicles, tanks and handguns was imminent. 'The agreement will be signed any time between now and tomorrow morning,' said Catan during a press conference. Catam added that he hopes Poland will become Iraq's main arms supplier.
Associated Press
Polish Weapons Maker Signs Deal With Iraq
12.15.2004, 10:36 AM
A Polish weapons maker signed a multimillion dollar contract Wednesday to equip the new Iraqi army with helicopters, machine guns and ambulances, a company official said.
"This is a great satisfaction for us," said Roma Sarzynska, a spokeswoman for Bumar PHZ, a state-owned arms supplier that lost a major bid earlier this year for a contract in Iraq.
Poland's Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz praised the deal as "good news" and a "first major step."
Under the US$236 million (euro177 million) deal, Bumar will supply the Iraqi army with helicopters, ambulances, pistols, machine guns and water storage tanks, Sarzynska said. Added to some smaller deals signed earlier this year, Bumar's contracts with the Iraqi army now total nearly US$300 million (euro225 million), Sarzynska said.
Leaders in Poland - which sent troops to the U.S.-led war in Iraq and now command a 6,000-strong international force there - have often expressed frustration that their loyalty to Washington had not resulted in more economic rewards.
Bumar lost a major bid early this year to Nour USA to supply the Iraqi army with a wide rage of equipment. Bumar, which bid US$560 million (euro420 million), accused Nour of underbidding with its offer of US$327 million (euro246 million), which it argued was not enough to meet the technical requirements of the contract.
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2004/12/15/ap1713543.html
Respect to the Poles for their engagement in Iraq but Polands future simply is the EU (economicaly, geographicaly, culturaly, same interests). In 15 years when the parents tell the young Poles about the Iraq war the youngsters will answer "that were different times".
Or maybe it's just because the Polish government made the decision to join the war at times when the Polish voters weren't so sure how the EU adventure would turn out? Add a bit of America=paradise transfigurational thinking to it and your probably quite close to the reasons.
I wouldn't mind yanking the $2 billion we give in aid to Egypt every year and helping out Poland with it.
Grzegorz, I wouldn't take Mr. Dzido's statements compleltely seriously - don't forget that he's still only populist member of Samoobrona. Pozdrawiam!
Sure. I forgot that it isn't obvious for everyone. This article is biased, but anyway is also a little true. I don't say that we should get tonnes of gold, but one of the poorest countries in EU can't fund the richest country in the world.
Yes, you're right.
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