By Witold Żygulski
20 March 2003

President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, as head of the Armed Forces, gave his formal consent March 18 to the participation of a limited Polish Army contingent in the military operation against Iraq.

Prime Minister Leszek Miller had earlier requested such consent.
"Peace, yes, but not at the price of consent to terrorism," Kwaśniewski said during a special press conference held jointly with Miller. The president pointed out that Poland has always been against war, a stance borne of its own tragic experiences. However, Kwaśniewski believes that the situation justifies the use of force; Saddam Hussein's Iraq still refuses to comply with UN Security Council resolution 1441. Warsaw believes that a new resolution is not needed to begin military operations.

Miller said that the government debated Polish participation in Iraq for several hours in a special meeting. Following a heated discussion, it was stated that in a situation where Hussein's regime is still in the possession of weapons of mass destruction, it would be an error to "abandon moves designed to efficiently disarm Iraq." Later on, Kwaśniewski stated in his address that Europe once tragically experienced the effects of similar abandonment at the end of the 1930s.

Under the presidential decision, Polish soldiers can participate in operations in the Persian Gulf from March 19 until Sept. 15, 2003. The contingent is to number up to 200 soldiers. Their basic task is logistic support for the forces of the anti-Iraq coalition. This role is to be performed by the Kontradmirał Xavery Czernicki logistic support ship. The 53-member crew are currently cruising Persian Gulf waters and awaiting orders, while participating in auxiliary tasks such as food and water deliveries.

Most likely, some anti-chemical warfare troops will also be sent to the region. These may include a contamination neutralization platoon numbering 75 soldiers and minesweeping troops from the First Sapper Brigade of Brzeg, experienced in similar operations-its soldiers currently serve in Afghanistan.

All the soldiers will be career and regular army soldiers recruited on a voluntary basis. Some have made it clear that they are motivated by high pay; participants in international operations are rewarded much better than soldiers serving at home.

For the time being, only a commando group from the special GROM unit has been staying in the potential battle arena; their tasks remain top secret. But there is talk that members of GROM and the similar Formoza marine unit may participate in attacks on crucial targets in the potential war, such as Iraqi army headquarters, airports, oil rigs, and so on.

They may also help hunt for people on American lists of Al-Qaida supporters in Iraq. Eventually, as in the case in the Balkans and, according to unofficial sources also in Afghanistan, GROM specialists may be used to protect administration officials who will replace the Hussein regime after the war.

The position of the government and the president on the Iraq issue is different from that of Polish citizens. Opinion polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Poles are against an attack on Iraq-66 percent of respondents. Only 6 percent agree that the policy pursued by Saddam Hussein justifies the use of force against Iraq. Some 61 percent of Poles are against such an attack even if the UN Security Council had adopted a resolution sanctioning hostilities against Hussein.

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