New Europe in Iraq: "Our troops are so enthusiastic!"

wph: East European allies positive about Iraq missions

Joining the U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq has brought real military and diplomatic benefits that help offset the cost in blood and treasure, top officials from three East European allies said in interviews this week.

Even as President Bush finds himself under pressure to defend the U.S. mission in Iraq, these officials -- from Poland, Ukraine and Georgia -- say the argument that Iraq has been an unmitigated drain on their forces is much too simplistic.

"We supported the war in Iraq and have our troops there now not because we felt threatened directly by Saddam Hussein," said Polish Defense Minister Radek Sikorski.

"We are there because of our investment in a strong U.S.-Polish relationship. We want to show the United States we will be with them when we are needed," he said. "To that extent, we have done what we hoped to do."

On a practical level, he added, it has been a "boon" to Poland's modernizing armed forces to work side by side with U.S. troops, for training, for organization and for "interoperability" with U.S. weapons and equipment. Read more