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Poland's Premier to Discuss Iraq With Bush
Poland's premier headed to the United States on Saturday for talks with President Bush, saying he plans to explore ways to reorganize the Polish-led multinational force in Iraq in the wake of troop withdrawals by Spain and other countries. Prime Minister Marek Belka, who served as the director for economic policy for the U.S.-led provisional authority in Iraq until March, told The Associated Press he plans to talk with Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and others about the prospects of transferring more military duties to Iraqis in the Polish-led zone. "My point would be to do everything to strengthen Ayad Allawi," Belka said, referring to the Iraqi prime minister.Belka, speaking in an interview at Warsaw airport before departing on his two-day trip to Washington, said he would ask Bush: "What is the prospect of increasing the role of the Iraqi uniformed forces?" Poland has led the multinational force since its inception after the end of the war. It once was a 23-nation force of 9,500 troops responsible for south-central Iraq but has dwindled to 6,200 troops from 16 countries after several pulled out, most notably Spain, which withdrew its 1,300 soldiers after the election of a new government this spring. Poland has stressed it will not abandon its role leading the force, even though it is unpopular at home, but has said it would like to reduce its troops from 2,400 to between 1,000 and 1,500 and put more of the burden on Iraqi forces by early next year. Belka said he would try to address the logistics of such changes when meeting Monday with officials at the White House and Pentagon, and press the importance of forging ahead with plans to give Iraqi forces more responsibility. "We clearly need it," Belka said. "I don't think anyone can be pleased with what is going on in Iraq, including President Bush and Secretary Rumsfeld." But, he added: "It's not about being pleased or displeased, it's about our common goal, which is how to stabilize Iraq." Posted by: Steve White 2004-08-08 |
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