Former Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army, Gen. Leon Komornicki, says Poland is not ready for a potential armed conflict.
In his opinion, the country does not have an appropriate defense strategy, and the current actions of the government are mainly propaganda. The military official appealed on Radio ZET for the immediate reinstatement of universal conscription and a radical strengthening of air defense, writes Salon24.
During his interview, Gen. Komornicki said Poland has no precisely defined defense doctrine, adapted to contemporary threats and methods of warfare by Russia.
“We do not have the ability to effectively repel an air attack, and without this, we cannot talk about real defense,” he said.
According to him, Poland should create an air defense system modeled on the Israeli Iron Dome, but on a much larger scale, covering the entire territory of the country. “It is not enough to defend military facilities. We must protect all of society,” he explained.
Many current political declarations regarding security are propaganda in nature, Komornicki added. As an example, he cited the East Shield project, which he claims will not provide effective protection in the event of an attack. “Tanks at maximum speed will cover this area and will not engage in combat. Without appropriate support from air defense, the fortifications in the east will have no real significance,” he told listeners.
According to Komornicki, Poland is not a direct target of Russia in the near future, but the threat does exist. “In my opinion, we have about five years before the situation becomes really critical,” he predicted. It all depends on the development of the war in Ukraine and possible peace negotiations.
“Russia will first strike the Baltic countries, and Ukraine will be the biggest loser in the conflict. It will not regain the occupied territories, and it may even lose more,” added the general.
Addressing any realistic effectiveness of NATO in the current situation, he said, “There is a split in NATO. The differences between Western Europe and the United States practically eliminate the possibility of effective action under Article 5.”
The general also believes NATO’s credibility is undermined by the fact that the U.S. is not willing to really intervene in defense of the Baltic states. “We could not always rely on Article 5 and we cannot do so now,” he said.
According to the general, Poland should immediately reinstate compulsory military conscription. “It should have happened yesterday, not today,” he says, adding that his vision is for every citizen – both men and women – to undergo mandatory eight months of military training as part of the national education system.
Military training should also be mandatory for people holding key positions in the state and economy, Komornicki said: “You shouldn’t become a member of parliament, senator, company president or supervisory board member without basic military training.” According to the general, this would increase the defense awareness of the elites and allow for better preparation of the state for a possible conflict.
Komornicki also discussed the launch of a Polish nuclear program, saying that “if we want to really deter the enemy, we must have our own nuclear capabilities.”
The general was directly critical of the government’s policy towards the United States, calling for specific demands to be made regarding Polish security. “Poland cannot be a theatre of war. We must clearly define our strategic interests and negotiate U.S. support on our terms,” Komornicki told listeners, further criticizing Poland’s lack of a clear command system in wartime, as well as its exclusion of the president from meetings of the Council of Ministers.
Poland faces a huge challenge, he said, but the current defense policy does not correspond to the reality of the threats. The lack of strategy, insufficient air defense, and the illusion of security within NATO could have catastrophic consequences.
“We have to act now. Universal conscription, a real strategy, and a firm policy towards allies — this is the only path to security,” he concluded.
