Will central European countries stay the distance in Iraq?

Poland is not the only country in the region with troops in Iraq. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia also have forces deployed there. So will fear of terror attacks change their commitment to US led coalition in Iraq? Kerry Skyring put the question to Sebestyen Gorka in Budapest, an analyst for Janes Terrorism and Security Monitor.

"I think among the countries involved Poland will probably be one of the ones that holds out the longest - yes."

President Alexander Kwasniewski says Poland may start withdrawing early next year. An earlier pullout from Iraq after the stabilization mission is successful may begin in early 2005 - so it does sound like a softening or a weakening of the Poland position on Iraq?

"It could be interpreted as such but we mustn't forget the fact that if the time-table is kept to then the American authorities will hand over power to the new government on June 30th and I think most countries in the occupation will have to reconsider when they pull out at this time."

Coming back to Central Europe - are Central European countries prepared for possible terrorist attacks?

"Very difficult to say. You have to understand that these countries were former dictatorships, under dictatorships there was no threat of terrorism, on the contrary many of these countries actually assisted terrorist during their communist eras. As a result the expertise, the methodology, they had to pretty much start from scratch in the 1990's with regard to counter terrorism measures so they are probably less prepared substantively than I would say than France, Germany or the UK is."

So easier targets for terrorism?

"Easier targets in that regard yes, but at the same time I must say that they are not at the top of the target list in my opinion, for various reasons."

Such as?

"Well you have to understand that terrorism is a tactic which has one thing in mind and that is the inculcation of fear, to make people as afraid as possible. The terrorist looks for very symbolic targets such as the twin towers or the pentagon and also for countries where there is a large international media presence because they wish to get their message of violence to as broad an audience as possible and that's why Madrid was quite a sexy - quote unquote - target for them. In countries like Poland where you don't have 24 hour CNN teams and so forth this angle of a terrorist attack is a little bit less attractive."

Western European leaders are calling for a plan against terrorism after the Madrid bombings, can Central Europe contribute to that?

"I think Central Europe can contribute for the reason that we have been the recipient of much more illegal immigration of late especially from Afghanistan and Iraq - to Hungary particularly - which provides a very good source of intelligence particularly with regard to the Middle East and potential extremism. But with regard to the original initiative, I am very "leery" of it because I am not sure the European Union is the place to be fighting terrorism, I don't see the core competencies, the skills there to do that."