Can someone tell me what is it with Poland that's funny?

[Scooter24]

Ever since the debate, many people have been referencing Poland. Maybe I just missed it, but could someone kindly tell me what was said?

[Arancaytar]

1. He mentioned Poland as..

One of the allies of the US in Iraq, and admonished Kerry for demeaning England and Poland (what other countries, btw, I forget... Italy?) by saying the US "had no strong allies".

I don't see the exact point of the jokes on Poland in specific, but I must say it's pretty funny to go on about how the US has many strong allies, and then lists around 3 countries, who are already considering leaving.

Oh, okay, I just saw the actual quote again. "Well actually, he forgot Poland..." (as a response to Kerry's listing the few countries still in Iraq, iirc).

[DRoseDARs]

2. During the 1st debate, Kerry was making the point that...

When the War in Iraq began, the "Coalition of the Willing" was almost entirely comprised of US and UK forces with tens of thousands of troops each. If I understand correctly Poland was the third largest contributor, but numbering only about 2,000 troops; progressively much smaller numbers after that. Kerry's point was that a proper coalition would have been along the lines of what Poppy Bush put together during the first Gulf War. This "Coalition of the Willing" was a joke going into Iraq; only later did other nations start putting in more. Not nearly what the US and UK have, but certainly better than at the start of the war.

Bush got his chance to counter. "You forgot Poland..."

[LynnTheDem]

5. 3rd largest was Australia with 2000 troops.

Poland had only 200 troops in the actual invasion. :D

[DRoseDARs]

6. I thought that was Palau with 200...

Doh! I forgot Australia! :spank:

[LynnTheDem]

7. Oooh why how DARE you !!!

MOCKING the coalition by forgetting the Aussies!

And I bet you always forget them 24 peacekeeper troops from Moldova, too! For SHAME!

rotfl!!! :D

[DRoseDARs]

8. Yeah, well they're all still a bunch of free-loading bastards...

:P ;)

[LynnTheDem]

9. LOL!!!

Ain't it the truth.

The 44 Tongans tho, OUCH them spears look sharp! :D

[spatlese]

15. Forgot Australia

Bush forgot to mention Australia, and the ironic part is that the Australian Prime Minister's son is actually on his campaign committee!

BTW, am new here, and am wondering what n/t means? Thanks!

[sendero]

17. Welcome to DU

... n/t, nt, eom in the subject line all mean the same thing - there is no text in the message body, the subject line is the entire post.

[Blayde Starrfyre]

3. HE FORGOT POLAND!!!! Not really.

Kerry said this:

"Secondly, when we went in, there were three countries: Great Britain, Australia and the United States."

To which Bush deftly retorted:

"Well actually, he forgot Poland."

But John Kerry was right. Poland wasn't there "when we went it." They weren't a part of the invasion force apart from a few commandos. Bush is just misleading us yet again.

[LynnTheDem]

4. The joke is...

in the invasion there were 295,000 US troops...45,000 UK troops...2000 Aussie troops...and a whopping POWERHOUSE of 200 Polish troops. How COULD Kerry have forgotten that!

And of course there's these 2 tidbits that bush forgot about that add to the jocularity;

1. "We have never hidden our desire for Polish oil companies to finally have access to sources of commodities"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3043330.stm

Gee that does explain why the polish government was willing to send 200-250 troops into Iraq. It's the OIL, stupid.

2. "They deceived us about the weapons of mass destruction, that's true. We were taken for a ride." said Poland's president.

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2004/s1069242.htm

[izzie]

10. It was how it was done. Not that it was that country.

It is when you read something and it is not funny but how it is used and when used that makes it funny. It was almost like Kerry had a second banana that filled in the rest of the statement that made it funny.That is the best I can do for you.

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Aside from all that's been said, Victor Ashe is

now ambassador to Poland, according to another thread here.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. In WHAT WAY is Poland funny? Is it a clown, to amuse you?

[T Bone]

13. Poland announced yesterday they are OUT of Iraq after 2005

didn't they? Wonder what chimpy will have to say about Poland in the Friday debate. Oh right, he will probably speak Polish on Friday, or at least sound like he is speaking Polish.

Whats funny is when the Poles leave they will probably be able to put all their guys and equipment on ONE 747, won't they?

[regularguy]

16. Is it your PERSONAL ENTERTAINER?

[Francine Frensky]

14. The funny thing was the WAY he said it, like "Hey teacher! The smart kid

just made a mistake!!!"

But it WASN'T a mistake, because Poland is no big part of the coalition.