Poland,ready for attacks,takes over in central Iraq

Reuters | 9/03/03 | Douglas Busvine

[kattracks]

BABYLON, Iraq, Sept 3 (Reuters) - U.S. Marines handed over control of a patch of central Iraq on Wednesday to a Polish-led multinational force in a ceremony in ancient Babylon.

The handover is part of efforts by Washington to relieve the burden on its troops occupying Iraq since the war that ousted Saddam Hussein in April.

"I have absolute faith and confidence in the 21 nations that will assume their responsibilities today," Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, told a ceremony in an open air amphitheatre in Babylon.

In Warsaw, Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said his soldiers were ready to face attack and take casualties to restore stability to the area now under its command.

"I hope things go well, but if they don't we will have to show a lot of composure and understand that this is not a vacation in Iraq but a stabilisation mission," Kwasniewski told Polish public radio.

Kwasniewski warned of "danger, shooting, terrorist attacks and possible casualties," but said Poland would not cut and run from its obligations as an ally to the United States.

Polish commandos saw action in the U.S.-led war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Poland now has 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq, out of the combined force of around 12,000.

Kwasniewski, who plans to visit Iraq before Christmas, said the stabilisation mission could last two years,

The U.S. Marines have been responsible for the South-Central zone of Iraq for several months. They will stay in the holy city of Najaf, part of the zone and scene of a massive car bomb on Friday, for at least two more weeks.

Spanish and Central American contingents were due to provide most of the troops in Najaf, but they are not yet fully equipped, officials said.

(With additional reporting by Douglas Busvine in Warsaw)

09/03/03 04:52 ET

[risk]

We are finding out who our friends really are.

[Go Gordon]

"I have absolute faith and confidence in the 21 nations that will assume their responsibilities today," Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. troops in Iraq, told a ceremony in an open air amphitheatre in Babylon.

Looks like we have 21 very good friends indeed.

[PigRigger]

"Kwasniewski warned of "danger, shooting, terrorist attacks and possible casualties," but said Poland would not cut and run from its obligations as an ally to the United States. "

Thank you Poland.

I will remember, my children will remember who stood by our side....and who didn't.

[chiefqc]

Lets make a deal, I'll give you one each New York and Calif. if you give me Poland.

The only reqiurement is that you have to take the elected officals of those states.

No returns accepted, once you take the deal they are yours forever.