Polish troops targeted in Iraq

[indictrichardperle]

"A base housing Polish troops came under mortar fire overnight(friday) a defense ministry spokesman said"

"Our troops were immediately evacuated to a shelter", Polish defense ministry said.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4314.htm

(the resistance looks.....Organized)

[rooboy]

1. "Our troops were immediately evacuated to a shelter"...

is diplomatic code for "they ran away".

[expatriot]

2. which is historically a well-rehearsed manuever for the Polish Army

[expatriot]

4. no, that's not fair.... I have to take that back.

that was a cheap short and playing on stereotypes... the Poles have actually fought very courageously against tremendous odds... they could have put up a much fiercer resistance to the Germans and perhaps even endured a two front war with the Soviets for a couple months if it were not for the incompetence and mispriorities of their pre-war government.

[Lithos]

5. Even more unfair when you realize

That the Poles in 1920 threw back the armies of the Bolsheviks.

L-

[expatriot]

7. yes i realize that, that famous battled just east of warsaw...

but to be counter-fair to the bolsheviks... every western power and their cousins were sending expeditioins into Russia at the time (inclduing the US, France, Britain)

[NYC]

8. Just so you'll know.

One of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen was a film of the Polish Cavalry on horseback charging the German tanks.

I know you retracted what you said. I just want you to know something heroic they did.

[indictrichardperle]

3. poor Poles

how would you like to be a rentacop in 120 degree desert heat, where several hundred thousand angry Guerrillas are eye-balling any "relief troops" ?

Oh yea, Polish morale and "fighting spirit" ought to be reeeeeeeeeeel effective :eyes:

[rooboy]

11. I wasn't really having a dig at the Polish...

but rather being cynical about spin. Notice how we never hear about soldiers from our own countries running away ??

:) :)

[indictrichardperle]

12. i know you werent

and i concur, they will run away. They have no incentive to do anything other than try to survive. What national interest, patriotic duty, loyalty etc.....could these Poles possibly have ? They havent been pumped full of propaganda and lies.........like our troops were, although it appears our troops are seeing the light....at an unfortunate price.

The Poles are very expensive window dressing....just as in this attack, the US will try to protect them, and the Iraqis will try to attack them. Its a bad joke.

[Resistance Is Futile]

13. WTF

What do you expect troops to do when they come under mortar fire? Stand up and get killed?

Getting under cover is the right thing to do.

[indictrichardperle]

14. right and

US troops went and searched for the culprits, while Polish troops were led to a shelter. This pattern will continue. what are we paying them ? 250 million for 2000 troops ?

The fact is they are expensive window dressing, met to create the illusion of a coalition.

[rooboy]

16. Please read...

previous post #11.

[Aidoneus]

6. the mercenary occupation forces are unwanted?

Who could've seen that one coming?

[nolat]

9. In 1410 their armies defeated the German Teutonic Knights at the battle of

In 1410 their armies defeated the German Teutonic Knights at the battle of Tannenberg.

http://www.polandonline.com/history.html

[indictrichardperle]

10. it seems as if

Poland has always been in a bad spot, between powers Germany and Russia, dating way back.

But more to the point, the Polish government is getting bribed well to send their young people into a Hellish place. Soldiers like this have no reason to do anything more than just survive. I think it says something that Iraqi Guerrillas immediately targeted the Poles. They are probably going to try to "discourage" any non-US/Brit troops from coming into their country. Our troops badly need relief, the Iraqis apparently know this.

[billbuckhead]

15. Here is an example of Polish soldiers helping the Allies

"long the Garigliano the Germans stood fast with their hold on the great fortress of Cassino unshaken. On 29th January the Allies launched another attack on this little town but, by the 4th of February, it ended in failure. The Abbey of St Benedict, high above the area of conflict, was well placed to observe the whole battlefield. The Allies decided to remove the threat and on the 14th February they dropped leaflets on the abbey warning that it would be obliterated the following day. On the 15th 254 bombers dropped 576 tons of bombs and turned the Abbey into a heap of rubble. However the Germans had constructed bunkers and strong-points in the abbey which survived the bombardment and were actually strengthened by the rubble. After another days bombing the Allies launched a fresh attack on the 18th February following a five hour bombardment.

However this failed to resolve the problem of Cassino and the infantry was soon held up. Conditions began to resemble those of the Somme in the First World War. General Alexander, a veteran of the first world war, quickly called off the attack. On the 15th of March another attempt was made this time in excellent weather. The preliminary bombing of 1,400 tons was not remarkable for its accuracy. Allied positions were bombed up to twelve miles out from the target. There followed a two hour attack by 900 guns then tanks and infantry went in. Water-filled craters fouled up the tanks which should have supported the Infantry. After nightfall, this offensive was also halted.

Another offensive was launched on the 11th May. This time Cassino was outflanked and despite heavy losses the Polish Corps fought its way through to the north of the town and fell on it from the rear. Cassino fell on the 17th. The Poles took Monastery Hill on the 18th."

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<http://www.combinedops.com/Italy%201.htm>