In the spotlight: General Edward Pietrzyk

A three-car convoy was attacked transporting Poland's ambassador to Iraq, General Edward Pietrzyk. The blast killed two people, including an Iraqi civilian and a Government Protection Bureau (BOR) officer, and wounded 14 others, four of which were BOR officers. The ambassador himself received serious burns to 20 percent of his body, including his right arm and leg.

The attack was the first on a Polish official, and speculation followed that the terrorists were attempting to force a withdrawal of Polish troops from Iraq. But many experts expressed the belief that the culprits were looking to garner attention, and that the nationality of the target was of minor importance.

Nevertheless, the attack brought back the question of the future of Polish forces in Iraq. Although Poles enjoy a relatively good reputation among the Iraqi people, 27 troops have been killed since the beginning of their mission in 2003. Still, the government declared it has no plans for a withdrawal from Iraq in the near future. Currently there are 900 Polish soldiers stationed in the country.

Born in 1949, Pietrzyk graduated from the Military University of Technology (WAT) in Warsaw and the Military Academy of Artillery in Moscow. After Poland's transition to democracy, he studied at the United States Military Academy in 1997-1998.

From 1998-2000 he was the deputy commander of the Multinational Corps Northeast and from 2000-2006 he was the commander of Land Forces of Poland.

As WBJ went to press, General Pietrzyk was in stable condition and was expected to be transported back to Poland.