Polish contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
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Polish_soldiers_iraq.jpg
On March 17, 2003, Poland announced that it would send about 200 troops to the Persian Gulf to take part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. These formed the fourth and smallest fighting contribution to the forces arrayed against Iraq (with the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia).
The original Polish contingent contained (total: 184 troops):
- 54 soldiers from the elite GROM commando unit (it is known that these were involved in direct fighting with the Iraqi army)
- the logistic support ship "Xawery Czarniecki" with over 50 crew and a FORMOZA navy commando unit
- 74 antichemical contamination troops
Also a 53-man antichemical contamination unit was ready to be sent to Turkey, but because of the quick victory it was stopped one day before departure.
In April of 2005, Poland had 2,500 troops in Iraq and is also commanding a number of other coalition troops being part of the Polish-led Multinational Division Central-South.
In the first debate of the United States Presidential election of 2004, incumbent President George W. Bush accused his opponent, Senator John Kerry, of forgetting Poland's contribution to the war effort.
See also
External links
- President of Poland's decision to commit troops to Iraq (http://www.president.pl/x.node?id=2011993&eventId=1508071)
- Multinational Division Central-South homepage (http://www.piomndcs.mil.pl/)