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Q Cubed
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t3h y3ll0w p3ril
Apr 1999
time: 23:34
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stor...w/76123/1/.html
quote:
WARSAW : In a first sign of official criticism in Poland of the US-led invasion of Iraq, President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that his country had been "taken for a ride" about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in the strife-torn country.
"That they deceived us about the weapons of mass destruction, that's true. We were taken for a ride," Kwasniewski said Thursday.
He argued however that it made no sense to pull US-led coalition troops out of Iraq.
His comments marked the first time Poland has publicly criticized Washington's argument for invading Iraq and for winning support from Poland and other European allies such as Britain and Spain.
Poland heads up a 9,000-strong multinational force patrolling a swathe of Iraq south of Baghdad.
Warsaw itself has the fourth-largest contingent in the coalition, with around 2,500 soldiers.
Kwasniewski was speaking days after the prime minister-elect of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said Madrid would withdraw its 1,300 soldiers from the Polish-led contingent by June 30, unless the United Nations took over administration of Iraq.
The Polish head of state questioned the wisdom of pulling foreign troops from the strife-torn country saying such a move could have a counter effect.
"What would be the point of pulling the troops if it meant a return to war, ethnic cleansing and conflict in neighboring countries," he told a group of visiting French journalists.
"If we protest against the United States' dominant role in world politics and we withdraw our troops knowing they will be replaced by US soldiers, what would be the point of such a move?" he questioned.
He said he was disappointed by the new Spanish government's threat to withdraw its 1,300 soldiers.
"We cannot alter our mission to stabilize Iraq to one to destabilize the country," he said.
"Passiveness will lead us nowhere," he added. |
even worse, apparently others in the government are considering pulling out early.
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germanos
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behind a firm ****, Rotterdam, NL
Apr 2002
time: 06:34
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Oh oh, the coalition is starting to fall apart.
Iraq will prove to be a Phyrric victory for the west.
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Bereta_Eder
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Polish are smart people.
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chegitz guevara
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Ft. Lauderdale, FL Communist Party of Apolyton
Jun 2000
time: 00:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Verto
Except Poland is not withdrawing troops.. |
Not necessarily true.
Poland may withdraw Iraq troops
- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Monika Scislowska
March 18, 2004 | WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- President Aleksander Kwasniewski, a key Washington ally, said Thursday he may withdraw troops early from Iraq and that Poland was "misled" about the threat of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
His remarks to a small group of European reporters were his first hint of criticism about war in Iraq, where Poland currently has 2,400 troops and with the United States and Britain commands one of three sectors of the U.S.-led occupation.
"Naturally, one may protest the reasons for the war action in Iraq. I personally think that today, Iraq without Saddam Hussein is a truly better Iraq than with Saddam Hussein," Kwasniewski told the European reporters.
"But naturally I also feel uncomfortable due to the fact that we were misled with the information on weapons of mass destruction," he said, according to a transcript released by the presidential press office.
Earlier in the day, Kwasniewski said Poland may start withdrawing its troops from Iraq early next year, months earlier than the previously stated date of mid-2005. He cited progress toward stabilizing Iraq.
"Everything suggests that pullout from Iraq may be possible after the stabilization mission is crowned with success and, in my assessment soon, it may be the start of 2005," Kwasniewski told RMF-FM radio.
His comments came days after Spain's new government, taking power in the wake of Madrid bombings apparently linked to al-Qaida, said it would pull its troops from Iraq by June 30 unless the United Nations takes over.
The 9,500-strong multinational force that Poland commands in south-central Iraq includes the 1,300 Spaniards.
Kwasniewski noted that Iraq now has an interim constitution and said should soon have an interim government that will allow current forces to be replaced by peacekeepers.
He insisted that Poland's possible early withdrawal would not be prompted by fears of terror attacks or reprisals against his country for its role in Iraq.
"We are facing the same threat as Spain," Kwasniewski said, but "terrorism must be combated, also with force."
Kwasniewski is a key European ally of President Bush, although support for the military presence in Iraq has been far from overwhelming among Poles.
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JimmyCracksCorn
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Macedonia - Sovereign country north of Greece.
Dec 2002
time: 05:34
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quote:
Originally posted by germanos
Oh oh, the coalition is starting to fall apart.
Iraq will prove to be a Phyrric victory for the west. |
The US will just lose face, it won't alter the mission in Iraq if every colalition member pulls out. Its not like the foreigners are doing anything an American can't.
Which isn't to say its desirable for them to move out though.
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yavoon
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quote:
Originally posted by Agathon
Like Vietnam. |
I bet the vietnamese had wished we won vietnam.
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yavoon
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quote:
Originally posted by Agathon
You must be joking. They still gloat about handing you your asses. |
well look at the two cold war asian wars we fought.
korea and vietnam.
places we didnt control at end, north korea and vietnam. places we did, south korea.
I didn't say they lacked national pride. but perhaps some pragmatism would have shown more wisdom on their part.
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Eli
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Israel
Jul 2000
time: 07:34
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What Azazel said.
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Bereta_Eder
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Actually the one who condemnds Iraqis to misery is Bush. After he bombed them and plunged their country to anarchy even after being explicitely told not to by the international community, he now refuses to let the UN handle it condemning the people to more suffering.
Are there no limits to greed?
UN getting in will have but one difference: it will make it more difficult for the US to dictate contracts and oil exploration clauses.
For what other reason does Bush insists on not letting the UN in?
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yavoon
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quote:
Originally posted by Agathon
OK - the first started well and then you snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, ending up with half the country instead of all of it.
The second was a royal ass whipping. |
has nothing whatsoever to do w/ my point. I was speaking from the vietnamese perspective. not some OMG THE USA ROCKS. obviously tho this thread has been set aside for USA bashing, which seems to even apply to tangents.
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Apolyton Time is 00:34. |
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18-03-2004 23:32
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