US grants Polish army $230 million towards its operational costs in Iraq

The US Defense Department has declared that will financially assist the Polish stabilization mission in Iraq by transferring $230 million to the Polish Defense Ministry. Out of these funds, $200 million is designated for soldiers food and medical supplies, while the remaining amount is to cover the costs of sending a 9,200 strong international group of soldiers to the zone controlled by Poland. The funds will also guarantee that this group will arrive in Iraq within the next few months. Dov Zakheim, who is responsible for financial issues in the US Defense Department, informed that Poland which has sent 2,300 soldiers would cover only one third of the costs related to transport and stationing of its troops, whereas Spain, which is to send 1,300 soldiers, has to pay the whole amount. Zakheim also emphasized that the US is not covering the costs of Polish soldiers wages. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A5) A.K.