New course for defense
"Discussions will last until the Istanbul summit when the leaders will have to take a decision which will be of major importance," said Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdziński on Wednesday.
Critics of U.S. foreign policy say that the Pentagon is reneging on (at least implied) promises of reward made to Poland in return for its participation in the conflict in Iraq as well as more general military cooperation in NATO and the defense industry. However, there has never been a mechanism in place for such rewards to be granted in such a straightforward way.
At the summit in Turkey this June, Szmajdziński hopes that NATO members will agree to form an Iraq stabilization force, which would require the agreement of all the members of the alliance. "Early statements are encouraging because so far nobody has imposed a veto although some member-countries do not wish to participate," added Szmajdziński.
Early last month, the government learned that the state-owned Bumar defense company had lost a zł.1.8 billion ($450 million) Iraq reconstruction tender to Nour USA to supply uniforms, transport and weapons to the re-formed Iraqi army.
"We plan to demand an explanation," said Bumar spokeswoman Roma Sarzyńska, "notably concerning the credibility of the company that won the contract."
The setback was received with outrage in certain sections of the Polish media, particularly as President Kwaśniewski had flown to Washington DC in the last days of the competition for an audience with President George W. Bush to personally lobby for the tender.
Also last month, the cabinet began publicly voicing concerns (long discussed in the media) about the progress of Lockheed Martin's investment initiatives, expected in connection with Poland's purchase of 48 Lockheed F-16 jets worth zł.15.2 billion ($3.8 billion).
"We are concerned that the pace of launching various projects is slower than we had expected," said Science Minister Michał Kleiber. The U.S. government, in unison with Lockheed, had promised zł.25 billion ($6.3 billion) in investment and import deals in return for the purchase.
Kleiber drew particular attention to two investment projects facing delays, a zł.2.8 billion ($700 million) communications system known as 'Tetra' for the emergency services, as well as a circa zł.1 billion ($260 million) national registry of health provisions (RUM).
Lockheed issued a public response to the concerns, via their Warsaw representative Philip Georgariou, who stated that, "[Lockheed is] surprised by the critical remarks of the Polish government... because nothing has happened during the last two weeks that would change the picture."
Szmajdziński's announcement came a day ahead of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's visit to Warsaw last week. After talks with Szmajdziński and Prime Minister Leszek Miller, de Hoop Scheffer told the press that even preliminary discussions on NATO's presence in Iraq would only be possible after invitation from a sovereign Iraqi government and with United Nations approval.
"If those elements are met, then I think the alliance will approach this with a very positive attitude," de Hoop Scheffer said. For political analysts reading between the lines, de Hoop Scheffer's statements are close to the French line on peacekeeping in Iraq.
However, de Hoop Scheffer balanced his comments by indicating that withdrawal from a leadership role in the central zone of Iraq would be entirely Poland's decision rather than a response to pressure from NATO leadership.
At press time, representatives of the Polish military in the Polish-controlled territory of Karbala, Iraq, say that they have captured seven suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
"[Al-Qaeda] are coming [to Karbala province] with some of their ideas. They find some people here who are poor. They sell drugs and have terrorism money and give money to these Iraqis," said Warrant Officer Zbigniew Dąbkiewicz, a spokesman for the military in Karbala.
Critics of U.S. foreign policy say that the Pentagon is reneging on (at least implied) promises of reward made to Poland in return for its participation in the conflict in Iraq as well as more general military cooperation in NATO and the defense industry. However, there has never been a mechanism in place for such rewards to be granted in such a straightforward way.
At the summit in Turkey this June, Szmajdziński hopes that NATO members will agree to form an Iraq stabilization force, which would require the agreement of all the members of the alliance. "Early statements are encouraging because so far nobody has imposed a veto although some member-countries do not wish to participate," added Szmajdziński.
Early last month, the government learned that the state-owned Bumar defense company had lost a zł.1.8 billion ($450 million) Iraq reconstruction tender to Nour USA to supply uniforms, transport and weapons to the re-formed Iraqi army.
"We plan to demand an explanation," said Bumar spokeswoman Roma Sarzyńska, "notably concerning the credibility of the company that won the contract."
The setback was received with outrage in certain sections of the Polish media, particularly as President Kwaśniewski had flown to Washington DC in the last days of the competition for an audience with President George W. Bush to personally lobby for the tender.
Also last month, the cabinet began publicly voicing concerns (long discussed in the media) about the progress of Lockheed Martin's investment initiatives, expected in connection with Poland's purchase of 48 Lockheed F-16 jets worth zł.15.2 billion ($3.8 billion).
"We are concerned that the pace of launching various projects is slower than we had expected," said Science Minister Michał Kleiber. The U.S. government, in unison with Lockheed, had promised zł.25 billion ($6.3 billion) in investment and import deals in return for the purchase.
Kleiber drew particular attention to two investment projects facing delays, a zł.2.8 billion ($700 million) communications system known as 'Tetra' for the emergency services, as well as a circa zł.1 billion ($260 million) national registry of health provisions (RUM).
Lockheed issued a public response to the concerns, via their Warsaw representative Philip Georgariou, who stated that, "[Lockheed is] surprised by the critical remarks of the Polish government... because nothing has happened during the last two weeks that would change the picture."
Szmajdziński's announcement came a day ahead of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's visit to Warsaw last week. After talks with Szmajdziński and Prime Minister Leszek Miller, de Hoop Scheffer told the press that even preliminary discussions on NATO's presence in Iraq would only be possible after invitation from a sovereign Iraqi government and with United Nations approval.
"If those elements are met, then I think the alliance will approach this with a very positive attitude," de Hoop Scheffer said. For political analysts reading between the lines, de Hoop Scheffer's statements are close to the French line on peacekeeping in Iraq.
However, de Hoop Scheffer balanced his comments by indicating that withdrawal from a leadership role in the central zone of Iraq would be entirely Poland's decision rather than a response to pressure from NATO leadership.
At press time, representatives of the Polish military in the Polish-controlled territory of Karbala, Iraq, say that they have captured seven suspected al-Qaeda operatives.
"[Al-Qaeda] are coming [to Karbala province] with some of their ideas. They find some people here who are poor. They sell drugs and have terrorism money and give money to these Iraqis," said Warrant Officer Zbigniew Dąbkiewicz, a spokesman for the military in Karbala.
