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| Iraq |
| Polish elite troops see first action in Iraq |
| 2003-03-24 |
| Polish public opinion is not all that different than French and they've only been American allies (on paper anyway) for a few years, but they're with us anyway: Polish commandos have seen their first action of the Iraq war, with more than 50 troops joining the five-day-old campaign to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the Defence Ministry said on Monday. Confirmation came after U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Sunday the main U.S.-British assault force was being actively supported by troops from Australia and Poland. A Defence Ministry spokesman said "GROM" (Thunder) special forces had joined operations in the Gulf port of Umm Qasr, where resistance by Iraqi forces was continuing. Prime Minister Leszek Miller said no Polish casualties had been taken so far. "These operations are regarded as highly professional and highly effective. Our soldiers are earning very high marks," Miller told public radio. |
| Posted by:JAB |
| #5 DeviantSaint: it's the difference between doing a half-ass job and having to come back to do it again, or doing it right the first time. BTW, have you seen GROM train? goodness gracious... |
| Posted by: RW 2003-03-24 18:29:07 |
| #4 And the Polish helped us out in the Revolutionary War much as the French did. Nice to know one of them is still on our side. |
| Posted by: Hermetic 2003-03-24 14:53:10 |
| #3 I've seen polish EOD in action. It's a frightening thing. Not to be negative about the polish forces, they really are good troops, I would just like to say that there is indeed a fineline between hardass and dumbass. I know, I've tapdanced on that line, perhaps the poles are doing a little dancing too. It makes ya look Gallant. -DS "the horns hold up the halo." |
| Posted by: DeviantSaint 2003-03-24 11:35:56 |
| #2 I don't think anyone's going to start making derogatory references to the Poles' fighting ability, tu3031! In addition to your list above, there's also the Polish contribution to the RAF in WWII. From this page, well worth a visit: "...in the words of Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding, the C-in-C of the RAF Fighter Command during the Battle: (...) had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of battle would have been the same." |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-24 11:06:16 |
| #1 No jokes, folks. Polish elite units have an outstanding reputation and history. See Italy and Operation Market Garden in WW2. Be glad they're there. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-24 10:50:56 |