Poland Will Bail Out Of Iraq In 2005

by Steve

BUSH: My opponent says we didn't have any allies in this war. What's he say to Tony Blair? What's he say to Alexander Kwasniewski of Poland? I know how these people think. I deal with them all the time... I sit down with the world leaders frequently and talk to them on the phone frequently....

KERRY: When we went in, there were three countries: Great Britain, Australia and the United States. That's not a grand coalition. We can do better.

LEHRER: Thirty seconds, Mr. President.

BUSH: Well, actually, he forgot Poland. And now there's 30 nations involved, standing side by side with our American troops.
--Bush, first debate

And now tonight:

Prime Minister Marek Belka of Poland narrowly survived a vote of confidence on Friday after telling Parliament, "We will not stay in Iraq an hour longer than is needed."

"Poland will reduce its contingent from the start of 2005 and will discuss subsequent reductions," Mr. Belka said during a speech to Parliament.

Government officials said Mr. Belka's speech could be an acute embarrassment to President Bush. The president, in the first of his debates with Senator John Kerry, the Democratic challenger, praised President Aleksander Kwasniewski for sending troops to Iraq. He made a point of telling Mr. Kerry that Poland backed the United States.
--International Herald Tribune, tomorrow

Well, you really talk to these leaders all the time, Mr. President?