Confusion over Afghan deployment

30th October 2009

Confusion reigned over whether Poland would send more troops to Afghanistan after claims by the American ambassador to Poland that more Polish troops were about to take a ticket to Kabul were denied by the government.

In an embarrassing episode for both countries, Bogdan Klich, the defence minister, said that recently arrived Ambassador Lee Feinstein had made a mistake.

“The ambassador committed a blunder, since neither the prime minister, nor the minister of foreign affairs, nor the minister of national defence made any declarations to the American side about an increase in the contingent,” commented Mr Klich. “But, please remember that these are the ambassador's first days at a new ...