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First Polish Troops Head to Afghanistan -Opinion surveys show Poles are divided over the issue of sending troops to Afghanistan with 45 percent favoring involvement compared to 44 percent voicing opposition in a recent CBOS poll. WARSAW/WROCLAW, Mar 18, 2002 -- (dpa) NATO member Poland on Saturday began the long-delayed deployment of soldiers to the U.S.-led anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. A contingent of 80 Polish anti-bomb and logistics specialists will be stationed near the Afghan capital Kabul as well as in the Persian Gulf, defense officials confirmed. Five military physicians and a psychologist will join the troops. The first 24 Polish personnel left for Kabul from Wroclaw, southwestern Poland, aboard a Ukrainian AN-124 Ruslan transport carrier Saturday. More flights are planned next week to ferry the remaining soldiers to Kabul. Defense ministry officials refused to reveal whether soldiers from Poland's elite GROM commando unit were being deployed, but confirmed the troops will serve a six-month tour of duty which may be extended. In November of last year Poland pledged 300 soldiers for the U.S.-led "Enduring Freedom" anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. Original plans called for Polish forces to be deployed in the operations in January, but delays ensued after it became apparent Poland lacked the heavy transport aircraft to get soldiers to the region. Transport arrangements were eventually made with NATO partner Ukraine. Opinion surveys show Poles are divided over the issue of sending troops to Afghanistan with 45 percent favoring involvement compared to 44 percent voicing opposition in a recent CBOS poll. Former Warsaw Pact adversary Poland joined NATO in the alliance's first wave of eastward expansion in March 1999 and has since become a key regional ally in Central Europe. (C)2002. dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
