http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/dokument.aspx?iid=72041

Former Polish PM calls decision to withdraw from Iraq a ‘mistake’

19.12.2007

In an interview with Polish Radio 1, Wednesday morning, Chairman of Law and Justice (PiS), Jarosław Kaczyński called the decision to withdraw Polish troops from Iraq by October 2008 a mistake.

 

On Tuesday, the government decided that the Polish engagement in Iraq would be extended until 31 October 2008.  A motion to this respect was submitted with the president.

 

PiS chairman told the radio that military missions of other states stationed in Iraq were also coming to an end.  In Kaczyński’s opinion, Poles should wait and pull out of Iraq along with other allies, and added that the issue could also be resolved in a different way.

 

Jarosław Kaczyński said that the decision to leave Iraq exposed Donald Tusk’s "anti-presidential obsession".  In Kaczyński’s view, the premier intended to provoke a conflict with the head of state, Lech Kaczynski, yet again. 

 

He stressed that Donald Tusk acted against the Polish interest and questioned the constitutional order for the sake of the future presidential election.  (mj)