Posted on 04/10/2010 4:18:02 AM PDT by Matt_Rel
[translation from a Polish website]
Supreme Polish leaders, including the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Lech Kaczynski and his legendary predecessor, the President of Poland In Exile, Mr. Ryszard Kaczorowski, as well as almost entire Staff of the Polish Armed Forces die in the crash near Smolensk, Russia.
According to official information (confirmed), supreme commanders of the Polish Armed Forces died in the crash, adding to thousands of the military commanders that had been killed there in 1940.
Upon the Constitution of Poland, in case of President's sudden death, the Speaker of the Parliament, automatically becomes the President of Poland. Therefore, Mr. Bronislav Komorowski has officially taken duties of the President of the Republic.
The fallen officers of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces:
1. Gen. Gagor /read: gon'gor/ , The Supreme Commander of the Polish Armed Forces
R.I.P. April 10,2010
2. Gen. Bronislaw KWIATKOWSKI - The Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces
R.I.P. April 10,2010
3. Gen. Andrzej BLASIK /buasheek/- The Commander of the Polish Air Force
R.I.P. April 10,2010
4. Gen. Tadeusz BUK - The Commander of the Polish Ground Forces
[here in a field uniform in Afghanistan]
R.I.P. April 10,2010
5. Gen. dyw. Włodzimierz POTASIŃSKI The Commander of the Polish Special Forces (e.g. supreme commander of GROM)
R.I.P. April 10,2010
6. Admiral Andrzej KARWETA - The Commander of the Polish Navy
R.I.P. April 10,2010
7. Gen. Kazimierz GILARSKI - The Commander of the Capital of Warsaw Army
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General Staff pay their tribute to late Pope John Paul II
MAY THE ETERNAL LIGHT OF CHRIST BE NOW WITH YOU ALL
The Polish Army lost its head :-(
Disregard “Soviet-era Ilyushin”.
It was actually a “Soviet-era Tu-154”.
gen. Mieczyslaw Stachowiak
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gen. Edward Gruszka
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gen. Krzysztof Zaleski
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gen. Marek Olbrycht
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gen. Slawomir Dygnatowski
Today, I called Polish Prime Minister Tusk to express Michelle's and my deepest condolences to the people of Poland on the tragic deaths this morning of President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynski, and all who were traveling with them to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kaczynski family, the loved ones of those killed in this tragic plane crash, and the Polish nation.
Today’s loss is devastating to Poland, to the United States, and to the world. President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who played a key role in the Solidarity movement, and he was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity. With him were many of Poland’s most distinguished civilian and military leaders who have helped to shape Poland’s inspiring democratic transformation. We join all the people of Poland in mourning their passing.
Today, there are heavy hearts across America. The United States cherishes its deep and abiding bonds with the people of Poland. Those bonds are represented in the strength of our alliance, the friendships among our people, and the extraordinary contributions of Polish-Americans who have helped to shape our nation.
It is a testament to the strength of the Polish people that those who were lost were travelling to commemorate a devastating massacre of World War II as the leaders of a strong, vibrant, and free Poland. That strength will ensure that Poland emerges from the depths of this unthinkable tragedy, and that the legacy of the leaders who died today will be a light that continues to guide Poland – and the world – in the direction of human progress.
This is strange stuff sure enuf.
ABC News: Vladimir Putin to head investigation into Polish president's death
My heart goes out to Poland and her people. I pray for healing and peace.
Again, prayers for you country during this tragic time.
“The entire top military brass, including the chief of defense and all the services, were on the plane,” said Tomas Valasek, of the Center for European Reform. “If that is true, then you’re looking at a situation, in effect, of the decapitation of the military services.”
This is a tragedy for Poland. IMO, all these prominent people should not have been on the same plane.
Why were SO many such important people on the same plane?
Not only white (gasp, the horror) but Catholic... BO’s probably partying as we speak.
There have been many high profile murders and attempted murders on behalf of Putin. Three are:
Viktor Yushchenko: Ukraine—poison—failed
Anna Politkovskaya: Russian journalist—murdered
Alexander Litvinenko:ex-soviet spy—radiation—successful
To quote one of my favorite Founding Fathers:
“...I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past.... “
It is not tinfoil to speculate anything given the fragile state of the world today.
Ron Brown redux?
Especially on a TU-154.
I’m surprised they even have one. I’d have had no problem with taking up a collection to buy Poland’s president a Boeing.
My thoughts also
An absolutely terrible tragedy for the world and all involved.
Our prayers are with the families and friends of those who died.
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