Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
By VANESSA GERA - Associated Press Writer
WARSAW, Poland - (AP) Poland's president on Thursday approved
extending the country's military mission in Iraq for another year, the prime
minister said.
Lech Kaczynski signed the documents extending the mission, Prime
Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz said.
"The issue is closed and taken care of," he told all-news station
TVN24 during a skiing trip at the Polish mountain resort of Zakopane.
Marcinkiewicz's government requested Tuesday that Kaczynski, the
commander in chief of Poland's armed forces, reverse plans by the previous
government to bring home troops serving with the U.S.-led coalition in early
2006.
The president's office would not immediately confirm the news. But
final approval from Kaczynski, who is close to Marcinkiewicz's government,
was widely expected.
Poland's decision provides some relief to U.S. President George W.
Bush, who has seen the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq dwindle and faced
withering criticism at home and abroad over his handling of the war.
In calling for an extension Tuesday, Marcinkiewicz called it "a very
difficult decision" but a step meant to help maintain stability as Iraq
progresses toward democracy.
Poland has been a staunch U.S. ally in Iraq. It sent combat troops
to the country and in September 2003 took command of an international force
that now numbers some 3,000 troops.
However, the deployment is unpopular and some in Poland have
complained that they have not seen sufficient rewards _ for example, easier
access to U.S. visas or more contracts for Polish companies in the
rebuilding of Iraq. Seventeen Poland solders have died in Iraq.
The previous left-wing government had said it would bring the 1,500
Polish troops home at the start of 2006.
That government was replaced after parliamentary and presidential
elections in September and October, which resulted in the conservative Law
and Justice party of Marcinkiewicz and Kaczynski succeeding former
communists in the top offices.
WARSAW, Poland - (AP) Poland's president on Thursday approved
extending the country's military mission in Iraq for another year, the prime
minister said.
Lech Kaczynski signed the documents extending the mission, Prime
Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz said.
"The issue is closed and taken care of," he told all-news station
TVN24 during a skiing trip at the Polish mountain resort of Zakopane.
Marcinkiewicz's government requested Tuesday that Kaczynski, the
commander in chief of Poland's armed forces, reverse plans by the previous
government to bring home troops serving with the U.S.-led coalition in early
2006.
The president's office would not immediately confirm the news. But
final approval from Kaczynski, who is close to Marcinkiewicz's government,
was widely expected.
Poland's decision provides some relief to U.S. President George W.
Bush, who has seen the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq dwindle and faced
withering criticism at home and abroad over his handling of the war.
In calling for an extension Tuesday, Marcinkiewicz called it "a very
difficult decision" but a step meant to help maintain stability as Iraq
progresses toward democracy.
Poland has been a staunch U.S. ally in Iraq. It sent combat troops
to the country and in September 2003 took command of an international force
that now numbers some 3,000 troops.
However, the deployment is unpopular and some in Poland have
complained that they have not seen sufficient rewards _ for example, easier
access to U.S. visas or more contracts for Polish companies in the
rebuilding of Iraq. Seventeen Poland solders have died in Iraq.
The previous left-wing government had said it would bring the 1,500
Polish troops home at the start of 2006.
That government was replaced after parliamentary and presidential
elections in September and October, which resulted in the conservative Law
and Justice party of Marcinkiewicz and Kaczynski succeeding former
communists in the top offices.
