Bush invites Poland to Iraq conference

The Jerusalem Post ^ | April 11, 2003 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

US President George W. Bush has invited Poland, a staunch ally in the Iraq war, to help organize a "rolling dialogue" planned for next week on the future of the country, an aide to the Polish president said Friday.

Bush made the invitation to Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski by telephone Thursday, said Marek Siwiec, Kwasniewski's top security aide. Speaking on Polish state radio, Siwiec quoted Bush as saying that "we are inviting you because we have confidence in you."

Poland contributed about 200 troops, including 56 members of its elite GROM commando, a logistics vessel and anti-chemical warfare unit to support the US-led intervention.

On Thursday, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said the Bush administration is planning a "rolling dialogue" next week to discuss a government for Iraq in discussions with local assemblies in different parts of the country that will include Iraqi notables or potential leaders.

Gen. Tommy Franks, who is running the war, will host the meetings. They are being organized together with Britain, Australia and Poland, which have troops on the ground. They are expected to expand later to involve more countries, Siwiec said.

The United Nations and other countries that backed the US-led military intervention are being invited to attend as observers.

A statement from Kwasniewski's office said the president stressed to Bush the readiness of Poland -- and Polish companies -- to contribute to Iraq's stabilization and reconstruction. He added that his country has "thousands of specialists who have experience from having worked in Iraq and in the region."

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Polish companies constructed roads and industrial plants in Iraq, while Poland hosted thousands of Iraqi students.

Bush thanked Kwasniewski for "Poland's political support ... and for participation, competence and efficiency of its troops in military operations in Iraq," the statement added.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Bravo to the Poles!

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[MP5]

My man rewards loyalty.

[mattdono]

After almost 60 years, the Poles get their revenge on the Germans.

I think that everyone should lay off the Polish jokes for a while, they made a pretty smart choice in this situation.

[Mister Baredog]

The United Nations and other countries that backed the US-led military intervention are being invited to attend as observers.

The AXIS OF WEASELS will be meeting in Russia, bwaaaaaaaaaaa

[samtheman]

We are a good friend to Poland. So far, they are being a good friend to us.

As opposed to:

We were a good friend to France. So far they have never returned the friendship.

[xsmommy]

we love our polacks!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

President George W. Bush .......... smart man.

[geedee]

Here! Here!

[dighton]

After almost 60 years, the Poles get their revenge on the Germans.

And the Russians.

[PaulJ]

we love our polacks!

Um....you might not know this (a la Spiro Agnew), but "Polacks" is a derogatory word, akin to "wop" or "spic" or the dreaded "n-word". Best not to use it, unless you intend to offend.

[WorksinKOP]

Prosze bardzo (you're welcome), President Bush, and We'll be there!

Nice to hear about this, we should also move some of our German stationed soliers to new bases in Poland, where they would be appreciated.

[WorksinKOP]

oops...

soliers = soldiers

[xsmommy]

um, i do know it, because i am one (Polack heritage). and i use it affectionately. Hegewisch dupa is one also (hence his surname, which means posterior). : )

[xsmommy]

and it is not really offensive, nothing like the other epithets you describe.

[LS]

I would invite the Czechs, Bulgarians, Ukranians, and everyone else who was an ACTIVE, PUBLIC member of the coalition of the willing.

[eureka!]

I'm loving this. If we thought the Rats were shrill, just wait and watch the UN, French and German weenies see once again that W means and does what he says. *big effin's smile crossing face*

[Eric in the Ozarks]

There are no longer any such jokes here. They've been replaced with French "stinky cheese" jokes.

[Bluntpoint]

Ok. I'll bite. How many polacks does it take to open an Iraq conference?

[RummyChick]

where is spain in all of this? They were one of the big honchos at the transatlantic conference