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Poland Official: Troops Should Leave Iraq
By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA
Associated Press writer
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Poland, a key U.S. ally in Iraq, should withdraw its troops from the Mideast nation at the end of next year, Poland's defense minister said in an interview published Monday. It was the first time a Polish official has indicated when Warsaw might end its presence in Iraq.
Jerzy Szmajdzinski argued that 2 1/2 years in Iraq would be "enough" for the Polish military, and said his suggestion was aimed at countering "cheap populism" by opponents of the Polish presence. Prime Minister Marek Belka said he had not been consulted on the remarks and would meet Szmajdzinski later Monday, Poland's PAP news agency reported.
"In my opinion, the deadline (for Poland's mission) should be the date of expiry of the U.N. Security Council's resolution 1546," Szmajdzinski was quoted as telling the Gazeta Wyborcza daily. That resolution provided for the handover of power to Iraqi authorities, with steps that run through the end of next year.
Poland last year took command of a multinational security force in central Iraq that currently includes about 6,000 troops - among them more than 2,400 Polish soldiers. Leaders have previously said they hope to scale down the Polish presence significantly after parliamentary elections in Iraq scheduled for January.
Originally posted by Calibre
I don�t know about that. But considering that Poland is not a very rich country and is not as huge as the U.S.A. [...] And I doubt that a small country like Poland pulling back could be the end of the so called coalition.
Originally posted by Calibre
I think you can�t expect them to keep on being there. [edit on 4-10-2004 by Calibre]
Originally posted by Nygdan
I think only the US, GB, Australia and Poland have actual troops over there no? And the Pol contribution, while obviously not enourmous, is not insignificant either.
I�ve read here that also Germany has troops inthere. But I can not verify that. Since Poland�s contribution is indeed not enormeous in the eyes of America or UK or so it won�t break any coalition. But for the Polish people, who are not living on the same standards as most of us, this could be insignificant. What is to us a little amount, is for those people a lot. What is for us ONLY 2500 troops with weak cars, is for a country like that a lot. You have to see things in perspective.
I think only the US, GB, Australia and Poland have actual troops over there no? And the Pol contribution, while obviously not enourmous, is not insignificant either.
So everyone who is not willing to keep putting money in that war, everybody who does not totally agree with your leaders are not reliable? Lol..
You can't expect them to stay there because they're not reliable allies. Once their government changes, which will happen in autumn or spring, they will move out because all aprties who have chances of creating the governments want PL forces to get out
Originally posted by Calibre
So everyone who is not willing to keep putting money in that war, everybody who does not totally agree with your leaders are not reliable? Lol..
You have to look further than that. You have a pc and it seems you have an internet connection, most of them can�t even afford that. Don�t you think for the people living there, be it politicians or normal guys, there are other ways to spend the money?
[edit on 5-10-2004 by Calibre]
Originally posted by AtheiX
They should have thought of that earlier and now feel the consequences of this choice (this is named responsibility) or prove my these that they're not reliable allies
Erm, nope. Do you happen to know what exactly was told to them before they went in? I don�t think so.
They should have thought of that earlier and now feel the consequences of this choice (this is named responsibility) or prove my these that they're not reliable allies
The problem IMO here is that @ first the USA did not listen to the UN and invaded anyway, and now are calling the UN for help? What a joke. So first he doen�t listen and we are crap and not needed, but suddenly we are needed when things don�t go as expected.
To me this sounds the death knell for the Coalition. If countries are pulling out, it will make it incredibly difficult for the US to attract the UN to help out in Iraq.
You mean suppose Kerry wins and he asks to join the coallition and get troops in? I think those countries will react the same. If you as leader of a poor country get asked to spend a lot of money on something, to send soldiers into war (with of course the chance they might get killed), do you think it makes a difference? Think not.
Originally posted by Seekerof
Say what Calibre?
You think that any country asked to join will think twice? Really.
Question then for all those anybody but Bush folks, if asked by Kerry to join, would they?
I'm just interested in seeing just how objective your comments really are...