IRAQ/POLAND: Poland gave an uneasy farewell to troops bound for Iraq yesterday, with public support for their mission dwindling as Iraqi resistance takes an increasing toll on US-led occupation forces.
Around 1,700 Polish troops will fly out over the next week to form the core of a 9,200-strong multinational force in a Polish-run zone in south-central Iraq, an area dominated by Shiite Muslims.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski sought to rally the nation when he addressed the troops in the north-western port of Szczecin, saying the September 11th attacks on the US had changed the nature of global security.
"We cannot pretend this is not our business. The dramatic events of September 11th show we cannot sit on the fence."
Mr Kwasniewski staunchly backed the invasion to topple Saddam Hussein despite strong objections from key EU allies France and Germany.
He now faces mounting public opposition.
A poll published this week by the CBOS agency showed 55 per cent of Poles were against the deployment, with 36 per cent backing it.
In June, 50 per cent had supported the government's decision to join the US-led occupation.
"People need more information," Mr Kwasniewski said. "We are not going to Iraq for easy gains or for oil." - (Reuters)