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Poles
Talk About Sending Polish Soldiers To Iraq
From Nowy Dziennik
March 20, 2003
Compiled by Wojciech T. Mleczko
Poles living in New Jersey and New York were asked whether they
support the decision of the Polish government to send 200 Polish
soldiers to Iraq, where they will be supporting the American military
action.
Wladyslaw Geslak, president of Zrzeszenie Kresowiakow Semper
Fidelis:
Obviously it was a very difficult decision for the Polish
government. But I support it. Obligations of an ally are important,
especially in times like this. History has shown us that being an
ally on paper during peacetime means nothing. Its important
to live up to ones obligations.
Stanislaw Goracy, the owner of SG Interlink, an advertising
agency:
I do not support the decision of the Polish government, because
it does not have anything to do with Polands obligations as
a member of NATO. Whats more, even though Americans rely on
resolution 1441 passed by the UN, they will [act on their own],
since the UN does not support military action in Iraq. According
to the reports by Blix, Iraq does not pose threat to international
security nor does it possess weapons of mass destruction. All this
shows that sending Polish soldiers to the Middle East is not a wise
decision.
Romuald Dymski, businessman:
I fully support the decision of the Polish government and
the president. First of all, Iraq has not fulfilled the requirements
set by the United Nations. Second, terrorism should be fought in
every place around the world. Third, the United States is a very
important ally of Poland on the international arena and the sending
of symbolic 200 soldiers to the Middle East is an important signal
to the world and to the United States that Poles know what freedom
and democracy are. We can even refer to the old Polish slogan for
your freedom and for ours. President Kwasniewski in his recent
address reminded the French that they did not want to die
[fight] for Gdansk and evidently they have not drawn conclusions
from the tragedy of World War II.
Chester Lobrow, businessman:
As an American I fully support the decision of President
Bush and as a Pole I am glad that Polish soldiers will on the frontlines
of fighting with evil and terrorism. Hussein is an incarnated Hitler.
If it were not for the quick military action of the United States,
the geography of the Middle East would be much different today.
It was a mistake that at that time the military operation was not
carried out completely.
Anna Jez, economist:
I fully support the sending of Polish soldiers to the Middle
East. The United States should not be alone in this war. The goal
of the impending war is to free the Iraqi nation of a tyrant and
dictator. Hussein has on his conscience hundreds of thousands victims
of terror, which he has been spreading thought [his country] since
he came to power. For the last 12 years he showed no regard for
the UN resolutions and its time to [change that]. As a Pole,
I am proud that Polish soldiers will fight shoulder to shoulders
with Americans. This war will be short, and it will show tyrants
throughout the world that that their actions cannot [go unpunished].
Maria Radzewicz, owner of Polish agency in Irvington:
Its foolish to send Polish youth to this war. In the
name of what? For what interests? Iraq is not posing any threats
to us. Poland has never been of importance to anybody, and it never
will be, no matter how many soldiers we send. Its a very serious
mistake of the Polish government, a decision made against the public
opinion in Poland.
Translated From Polish By Joanna Sufin
Translated from Polish by Joanna Sufin
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