'Misled' Warsaw mulls early Iraq exit — POLAND | 世界のニュースを英語で読むならジャパンタイムズウィークリー


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POLAND
'Misled' Warsaw mulls early Iraq exit

Aleksander Kwasniewski

President Aleksander Kwasniewski, a key U.S. ally in Iraq, said March 18 that Poland was "misled" about whether President Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons of mass destruction and was considering withdrawing troops from Iraq several months early.

The remarks came as polls show about half of Poles are opposed to involvement in Iraq and after deadly bombings in Madrid -- possibly by al-Qaeda in retaliation for Spain's alliance with the United States -- triggered fears of a terrorist attack in Poland.

Kwasniewski's comments were the latest signs of a weakening of support for the war among coalition members. He tempered them by stressing that Poland is not about to abandon its mission in Iraq, and said Iraq was a better place without Saddam.

On March 19, South Korea became the latest U.S. ally to balk at sending troops to an increasingly violent Iraq, scrubbing plans for a mission to the hot spot of Kirkuk.

Seoul promised to eventually dispatch the 3,600 troops earmarked for Iraq, but only after it finds a safer location.

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