The changing of the Polish guard in Iraq is scheduled for January

General Mieczysław Bieniek has been chosen by the Defense Ministry to repla ce General Andrzej Tyszkiewicz as the head of the Multinational Division of Stabilization Forces in Iraq as of January 2004. The replacement is routine, and connected with the rotation of military forces in the South Central sta bilization zone, which is under the responsibility of Poland. The replaceme nt of Tyszkiewicz and his troops will last for a month, starting in the mid dle of January. After this has been completed, the basis of the Polish army in Iraq will be formed by the 11th Division of Armored Cavalry, 6th Landing Troops Brigade, 25th Air Cavalry Brigade and the 10th Logistics Brigade. It was not revealed how many soldiers will return home. Theoretically a soldie r's tour of duty in Iraq is six months, a period after which they can apply for an extension. Fifty-two year old General Bieniek is the first Polish of ficer to have held a very high position in NATO, becoming the deputy comman der of the 3rd International NATO Army Corp in 2002. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3)