Bush invites Poland to Iraq conference

The Jerusalem Post ^ | April 11, 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

US President George W. Bush has invited Poland, a staunch ally in the Iraq war, to help organize a "rolling dialogue" planned for next week on the future of the country, an aide to the Polish president said Friday.

Bush made the invitation to Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski by telephone Thursday, said Marek Siwiec, Kwasniewski's top security aide. Speaking on Polish state radio, Siwiec quoted Bush as saying that "we are inviting you because we have confidence in you."

Poland contributed about 200 troops, including 56 members of its elite GROM commando, a logistics vessel and anti-chemical warfare unit to support the US-led intervention.

On Thursday, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said the Bush administration is planning a "rolling dialogue" next week to discuss a government for Iraq in discussions with local assemblies in different parts of the country that will include Iraqi notables or potential leaders.

Gen. Tommy Franks, who is running the war, will host the meetings. They are being organized together with Britain, Australia and Poland, which have troops on the ground. They are expected to expand later to involve more countries, Siwiec said.

The United Nations and other countries that backed the US-led military intervention are being invited to attend as observers.

A statement from Kwasniewski's office said the president stressed to Bush the readiness of Poland -- and Polish companies -- to contribute to Iraq's stabilization and reconstruction. He added that his country has "thousands of specialists who have experience from having worked in Iraq and in the region."

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Polish companies constructed roads and industrial plants in Iraq, while Poland hosted thousands of Iraqi students.

Bush thanked Kwasniewski for "Poland's political support ... and for participation, competence and efficiency of its troops in military operations in Iraq," the statement added.

[Revolting cat!]

"My dad's name was Mazinski and I drank myself to death, so it doesn't mattter!"

[CyberCowboy777]

As a Kraut/Mick/Redskin I am not offended by the term "Polack".

Just don't call me a liberal.

[hchutch]

Not the Ukraine. They sold radars to Iraq. The Kolchuga, IIRC.

[HenryLeeII]

Yes, Copernicus is a Latinized form of his original name. Ooops, I also forgot to mention Koziuski who aided General Washington during the Revolution. I know you weren't saying Polish jokes are still fashionable; I was just trying to say that they were once really popular around these parts back in the 70's but now you never hear them.

[traditionalist]

I never quite understood why polak is a derogatory term English. The word simply means "Pole" in Polish, and it's pronounced in exactly the same way as the English slur. So go ahead, call me a polak (there's no c in the Polish spelling).

[PaulJ]

The word simply means "Pole" in Polish,

Actually, the word for Pole in Polish is pronounced "Polaku" (I don't know how to spell it), but at Ellis Island the name was shortened/mis-pronounced as "Polak" and was used as an insult.
And I know very little Polish, but I do know there is the letter "C" in Polish. Just ask any Pole who's name ends in "wicz".

[friendly]

Bush made the invitation to Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski by telephone Thursday..."We are inviting you because we have confidence in you."

"Sto lat" (Traditional Polish greeting of affection: "May you live to be 100") to our Polish friends.

To the Axis of Weasels: We are NOT inviting you because we have NO confidence in you!

[nicmarlo]

Kudos to the Pols....and much thanks for your help and soldiers' bravery in Iraq.

[edwin hubble]

The brave Poles...

At the outbreak of WWII they took the first steps to breaking the German cypher codes and smuggled the machines out to England, changing the course of the war.

They fought in the Battle of Britain, and on the continent.

And the smart Poles: (Erasmus, Chopin, Copernicus...)

[friendly]

Sto Lat to the most misunderstood and underrated people in Europe.

[antaresequity]

Polish GROM Commandos in Iraq. GROM was tasked with storming and clearing ships in the harbour of Umm Qasr on the initial phases of Iraqi Freedom

Colonel Roman Polko, head commander of the Polish elite commando GROM.

This is what I call an Ally

[antaresequity]

Send and email of appreciation to the Polish Government and its People

[Carolinamom]

Bush invited the UN as OBSERVERS! LOL (Cartoon coming up showing them standing outside looking in the windows.)

[antaresequity]

To the Polish People, Polish Government & Polish Armed Forces [GROM]

This American sends his deepest heartfelt thanks and appreciation for standing with the United States led coalition of forces to liberate the people of Iraq.

We as a people are honored to have such a great ally in the war on terrorism. I will never forget your contribution.

Regards

[name]
California, United States of America

[traditionalist]

I'm fluent in Polish, so I know what I'm talking about. Both Polak and Polaku mean Pole; they're two forms (cases)of the same word.

In Polish, nouns decline, that is, they change their endings according to how they're are used in a sentence. "Polak" is the nominative case of the word. That is, you use this form whenever you use the work as a subject of a sentence, as in "Polak walczy, "a pole fights." "Polaku" is the vocative case, that is, the case you use when adressing someone, as in "Hej Polaku!", "Hey you pole!" "Polaku" is also the locative case, that is, the form of the word you use when it is an object of a preposition, as in "o polaku", "about a pole."

I don't know where you got that Ellis Island Story, but it's pure Barbara Streisand (B.S.).

For more reading on Polish declension, see this web page:
http://www.republika.pl/grzegorj/isoen/gram2.html#przypadek

You are right that the letter "C" exists in Polish. It is usually pronounced similarly to "ts," unless before an i or marked with an accent, in which case it is pronounced like a soft "ch." "cz" is pronounced like a very "ch." In my last post, I only meant that the letter "C" is not in the word "Polak."

[ODDITHER]

God Bless Mr. Bush we love you! ( to coin a phrase heard again and again in Iraq.)

I have been asking these questions again and again. We don't need Germany, Russia or France but they sure as hell need us.

We spent billions of dollars to stablize Russia to ensure their nuclear weapons didn't fall into hands of rogue states and now we know that they did anyway. Cut them off.

We spend billions of dollars to provide military defense to Germany and now they don't want it. Pull them out and put them in the poor Eastern Europe countries that France has so much distain for.

We spend billions of dollars to ensure that France is also protected, we pay for NATO. So let them eat cake.

I would rather have 10 Polands than one France. Spain and Italy can help with reconstruction.

Let them pound sand. France is literally going from Arab state to Arab state to try and rile them up into hating us.
France has taken on the wrong enemy. They sold their soul 10 years ago in order to get revenues. The are prostitutes pur and simple. And in the end they will find themselves where they were in WWII. Occupied by Arabs who hate them.

It is time - to get rid of old Europe. It is time to disolve NATO and withdraw from the UN. It is time to form a new coalition. COTW.

[nmh]

"The United Nations and other countries that backed the US-led military intervention are being invited to attend as observers. "

I take it that those who DIDN'T back the U.S. lead coalition weren't invited? If so, how must France, Germany, Russia and China feel? ;) Awittle left out? ;) Still planning their imaginary role in the reconstruction?

[Dolphy]

The President has had a special affection for Poland beginning before the war. He gave a speech in Poland and has had made appearances in Eastern Michigan where there is a strong Polish community.

On another note, I appreciate your effort to be sensitive to terms used as slurs. Nobody would defend them if they knew their history or heard the stories of their humiliating use. Take that from an Italian:)

[traditionalist]

The Polish form of his name is "Kopernik," pronounced "coh-pehr-neek," stress on the second syllable, and "pehr" prounounced as in "pear."

[nmh]

Yeah, yeah, I've heard the Polish jokes too. I'm not Polish but in all honesty I have yet to meet the braindead Polack. Like any other nationality, they're out there but by no means is it the norm as jokes imply. In this situation they made the RIGHT decision to back this invasion so again, I don't see them as "stupid" or cowardly for that matter. I SO see the French as cowardly and selfish and it was reflected in their decision with Iraq.