Polish Generals and Minister say allied forces missed the best date to attack Iraq

The Defense Ministry and General Staff Headquarters think that the slow advance of the coalition forces in Iraq are due to mistakes made during the preparations for the attack. Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdziński believes the military operation had an optimum launch date which was missed. Together with the General Staff he argues that the coalition strategists did not fully take into account climactic conditions and as a result the whole operation was started far too late. Szmajdziński added that the next week will be very important for the campaign, during which the coalition forces should capture fortifications near Baghdad. Lech Konopka, the deputy head of the General Staff, thinks that American and British strategists underestimated the power of media and propaganda. (www.polskieradio.pl) M.M.