Supply of weapons to Iraq: Polish are tricked

Polish company Bumar lost to an American company the largest tender to supply weapons to 27 battalions of the newly created post-Saddam Iraqi army.

Warsaw, who supported Washington in the war, clearly expected to obtain this contract. Polish National Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski stated that he was "disappointed" by the results of the tender.

The head of the Polish defense ministry stated that it was "necessary to impartially assess the situation." According to him, only after such an analysis it will be possible to give assessments, "including political ones." The proposal of the American side (USD 327 million) turned out to be less costly. Bumar proposed to deliver similar shipments for USD 554 million. The tender encompassed 45 positions of armaments, accoutrements, equipment and other items.

Participation of Polish companies in the postwar restoration of Iraq was one of the subjects of the recently completed visit of Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski to the USA and his negotiations with American President George Bush.