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THE ARMY OF POLAND - THE REALITY [493]
In terms of numbers and equipment I would put them above many West European armies.
It doesn't mean much, to be "above many West European armies" - even if that is true. France and Britain ran out of things to bomb Libya with, after only a month of operations. They then had to come to the US asking for munitions, after first proudly declaring the "No Fly Zone" over Libya a European operation.
Source: atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/natosource/nato-runs-short-on-some-munitions-in-libya/
West Europeans armies are known mostly for failing at containing small-scale insurgencies by poorly-armed farmers. From Libya, to Mali, to Congo, to Afghanistan.
If Poland wants to compare itself to someone it should rather do it with countries like South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey. You know, actually strong militaries.
In any case, this discussion is moot because of what we have learned about Poland's financial position. PiS has made grand declarations about buying tons of weapons in an attempt to shore up its support among Russophobe voters (surprisingly large electoral bloc). In reality there is no money to pay for the commitments, without seriously hurting the budgets for healthcare, education, infrastructure, etc.
The plan to double Poland's army all the way to 300K is also dead on arrival. Poland has worse demographics than Russia, a country that is 4X its size. Russia struggles to keep its land component staffed at 300K with contract soldiers, even though average salaries in Russia are not very high and the army offers a comparatively good deal. How the hell will Poland manage to corral additional tens of thousands of people as volunteers, every year, to reach that figure? Even in America, all services are struggling to achieve their recruitment quotas.
Finally - let's remind ourselves - what's the most important thing for any military organization? That's right - experience. The United States has been at war nearly constantly during the last few decades. Russia also. Turkey has been flexing its muscles in Syria, and trying out various technologies from Libya to Azerbaijan. The Saudis, very bloodily, have been occupied with Yemen for the better part of a decade. What has Poland done? Sent 2,000 people to guard some buildings in Baghdad and Basra?
Poland's army is not a fighting army, and it has not the slightest clue of where to even begin integrating the long shopping list of supplies and how to use it. So if you think watching Russians make war is funny, then watching Poland will be like a visit to the circus.
