Polish defense minister Bogdan Klich

A decision was taken to appoint a Polish general as the deputy chief of the Allied Command Transformation. 

 

Report by Slawek Szefs  

 

Good and bad news for Poland has come from the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels. A decision was taken to nominate a Polish general as the deputy chief of the Allied Command Transformation  in Norfolk, Virginia. This is one of the highest strategic posts in NATO. 

 

While in NATO headquarters the Polish defense minister, Bogdan Klich, had the opportunity of conferring with his US opposite number Robert Gates. Though Mr. Klich remained tight lipped on the course of their talks relating to the dislocation of Patriot missiles in Poland, scheduled for end this year, sources revealed a US thumbs down for arming them with combat ready warheads.  

 

Similarly, Defense Secretary  Gates did not have good news concerning a greater number of mine resistant Cougars that the Polish Army wanted to receive as part of a special leasing agreement with the US. However, agreement was reached on a one year extension for the lease of the present 30 MRAPs made available to Polish forces in Afghanistan.

 

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