Poland to hang tough - Chides Spain

[Baba Louie]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1098267/posts?page=1

'Twould appear that the Poles are going to hang with us or hang with us.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) -- Poland has vowed not to pull troops out of Iraq because of "terrorist" attacks and said it was willing to remain in command of a stabilisation force there if Spain, which had been due to take over, withdrew.

Spain was due to take command of 9,000 troops in central Iraq on July 1, but that was thrown into doubt on Monday when Socialist Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he could bring home the Spanish 1,300 troops currently there.

"Revising our positions on Iraq after terrorists attacks would be to admit that terrorists are stronger and that they are right (to pursue attacks)," Prime Minister Leszek Miller told a news conference in the Polish town of Tarnow.

Zapataro's Sunday election victory was attributed in large part to a voter backlash against the previous government's support for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.

Many Spaniards blame last week's Madrid train bombings, which killed 200 people, on Spain's backing for the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Poland has 2,400 troops in Iraq and has led a 9,000-strong division of troops from 24 nations in a central-south zone since last September.

"If it is necessary, we will continue leading the multinational division," Polish Ambassador to NATO Jerzy M. Nowak told Reuters in Brussels. "We are prepared for that even if Spain is not able to fulfil its promise."

He said Warsaw would be prepared to stay in command of the division until the end of this year but would probably need NATO support to generate the right forces and provide essential equipment such as communications.

"We probably would again ask NATO for some assistance with force generation," Nowak said.

"The real problem would be what to do with the loss of one of the best troop contingents: 1,300 soldiers of very high class which had specific duties vis-a-vis the small contingents from Central America," he added, referring to troop contributions from Central Honduras, Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Hurrah for Poland. The gallant people of Poland gave us the Soldarity Movement which brought down the Commies in East Europe and ultimately the Soviet Union. They're better allies than some of our charter "Nato" allies.

 

[SAG0282]

Nicely done Poland!

 

[Range Ninja]

It's nice to know there are some countries that will fight the good fight rather than bow down to their enemies like Spain.

 

[RatFink]

I've allways wondered the source of "Pollack"jokes, I've never seen anything bad or stupid come from them. Hell during the months following the Normandy invasion it could be argued that they were a big part of what kept Montgomery's piece of the war from failing. Thier troops were far more effective than the Canadians or Brits (No disrespect to either of those peoples). Thier history show them to be people with a lot of courage and strength, and thier willingness, in fact desire to be a part of those that are fighting terror at this time in history just solidifies that image in my mind.

 

[BowStreetRunner]

right on, pollack jokes should be replaced with frog jokes
go poland!
BSR

 

[Declaration Day]

Polish guy here

Makes me proud of my heritage. By the way, I don't mind the jokes. If I couldn't laugh at myself, I would have no right to laugh at anyone else!

 

[Dave Bean]

I'm certainly not going to tell anymore Polish jokes. They've completely won my respect when they joined us.

As for the Spainards. They've just proven that terrorism works. I think there will be more bombings by AQ in Spain. And ETA has learned a good lesson too. ETA will probably step it up too. So sad.

Dave Bean

 

[warmi]

"wondered the source of "Pollack"jokes,"

From what I understand it was somehow related to the fact that early 20 century immigrants from Poland were mostly composed of uneducated and rather "simple" country people.

 

[Mulliga]

"Polish" jokes? - new to me. I thought Polish people were fairly well-accepted in modern America.

Nice to see people display some backbone. I'm not the biggest fan of the war, but electing Socialists in Spain after a terrorist bombing was probably the dumbest thing Spain could do. They deserve whatever fate they get.

 

[AZRickD]

I don't recall hearing a pollack joke in something like 20 years.

Maybe it was Lech Walesa and "Solidarnose."

There's power in finally removing the Yoke of Tyranny from one's neck that changes perceptions, both inside and out.

Rick

 

[c_yeager]

I think Poland has been stepped on enough to realize that you don't get anywhere by allowing people to push you around.

Spain on the other hand has the distinction of remain NEUTRAL even when the rest of Europe was being burned down by the Nazis. They have never been any kind 'ally' to us or anyone else but themselves.

 

[cracked butt]

God Bless the Poles. They get it.

 

[Iain]

That's a bit harsh c_yeager, Spain had just come out of a very very bloody civil war that a fascist dictator had won. Spain would only have been another country for us all to fight had they joined in, and their soldiers would have been as enthusiastic for it all as the Italians were. They were, under Aznar, a big help in the lead up to the latest Iraq war.

As for Poland, good. I hope my country sticks with it all too.

 

[c_yeager]

That's a bit harsh c_yeager, Spain had just come out of a very very bloody civil war that a fascist dictator had won.

Didnt that particular 'civil war' stand out as a war that was fought largely by NON Spanish people? And your right, the Spanish people would have been just as happy fighting US as being neutral. I wonder if it ever even occured to them to fight the Nazis.

 

[Iain]

It was a messy civil war, that yes did involve a lot of foreigners. The Luftwaffe did Guernika, the Russians were there, Orwell was there, Americans were there too.

Spent a bit of time in Spain in the last few years and have learned a few things. Firstly for many Spaniards the war is not over, there was an attempted coup in 1982 by some of the army, the present king was selected by Franco to be his successor (although he was hiding his love of constitutional monarchy very well) etc. Went to a town called Ronda in January, pretty town divided by a deep river gorge with a fantastic bridge. Above the arch of the bridge but below the road is a room, it was used as a prison during the civil war, the preferred method of execution was to throw the prisoners out of the window. Also went to the Alpujarra's where the remote residents only contact with the war was when either Nationalists or Republicans troops pulled up and executed a few locals for their 'crimes'.

Under Franco things were not allowed to 'occur' to people. If you were Basque or Catalan it was not allowed for it to occur to you to speak in your own language or follow your local customs. A friend of mine grandfather spent quite a bit of time in prison during these years. Spanish people are reputed to be short, but the people my age are tall - the older generation was malnourished. I think economists refer to the post-Franco economy as the 'Spanish miracle'. But Spain still has a way to go.

 

[Adam]

Hello from Warsaw!
Spanish declarations are very dangerous for us. It's like clear message for Al Kaida - try it again it's working. We are next country on the list, but we are as ready as we can be. I pray for our safety, but even the worst scenario can't change our course. Kick the Pole in the junk, and he will hit you in the face two times harder...no second Spain for sure. We are together, and we will be. Only during the trouble times you can find out who is your real ally. God bless America and God bless Poland. I hope I will become with my family a part of your great country some day...

 

[fix]

No surprise at all. Poland is a nation of warriors much like us.

 

[Baba Louie]

Kick the Pole in the junk, and he will hit you in the face two times harder

RIGHT ON!

I hope I will become with my family a part of your great country some day

Sounds like you're already one of us. Or maybe we're part of the same brotherhood in that fashion.

Now, if we could just infect the Democratic party with the same ferver.

 

[Checkman]

The Poles fought in 39, but they were invaded by the Germans in the west and the Russians in the East and because of their location their was no way England or France (hah!) could of come to their assistance. Nevertheless the Poles fought and continued to fight even though their country was occuppied. Good for Poland!

Now Spain - well whether they believe it or not the Spanish people have given a victory to the terrorists - very foolish. Very good chance we're going to see more attacks in other nations this year, possibly just before a general election is held. Didn't Munich teach us anything? Appeasing one's enemy is just ensuring that there is going to be more violence - not less.

Actually my wife has been speculating that perhaps elements of the Socialist Party (extremeists I supposse) assisted the terrorists. You never know.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Three cheers and lots of thank yous to Poland. The US should do more to recognize and reward Poland for taking a stand with us.

Spain, do you really want to be lumped in with the French? To give in to the terrorists is repugnant. Whether the terrorist acts were conducted by the Basque seperatists or Al Queda, is irrelevent now. Any group that wants something from the Spanish government just has to blow something up and the government will concede. What a shame.

-Jim

 

[LynnMassGuy]

Poland rules. I hope with all my heart that we never leave their asses hanging in the wind when they need us.

 

[Selfdfenz]

GB'em, each and every one.
S-

 

[WilderBill]

During WWII, Franco asked Hitler if Spain could have North Africa if they joined the Axis.
Hitler replied that he had already promised that to Italy.
If not for that one exchange, Spain would have fought for the Axis.

Now, as has been pointed out, they, or at least the socialists, have given al-Qaeda a victory greater than they ever imagined.
At the same time the stock market, mostly in Europe has fallen, hurting all of the western economy.

Somehow, I had an image of the Spainish as being more macho than French.

 

[greyhound]

Personally, I hope we consider our allies a little more carefully now, post Cold War and 9/11.

Some of our traditional allies (like France and Germany) are now more like trading partners (not really enemies but not allies either).

The old Soviet-bloc countries like Poland and Bulgaria seem much more in tune with the US.

Russia remains a big question mark.

Canada, Britian, Australia, are still allies, though I don't like their anti-self defense laws (or Canada's stance on Iraq, though they are still in Afghanistan.)

One more point: the lesson of Spain shows that an ally can change in a heartbeat depending on an election.