Poland: Defense Min. Damaging Military

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Several former Polish defense ministers are calling for the dismissal of the current minister, arguing that he is undermining the image of Poland's military within NATO and Polish society itself.

The letter, made public Sunday, comes several days after Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz accused his predecessors of leaving the country defenseless with mismanagement and allowing Russian agents to influence military training.

The signatories say Macieriewicz's claims aren't true. They said he has discredited the army, undermined the country's image with its allies and encouraged "aggressive activities against our country" by enemies.

A spokesman for the president, an ally of the ruling Law and Justice party, denounced the letter as a "tool of the opposition" being used in a "political fight."

The letter was signed by former Defense Ministers Janusz Onyszkiewicz, Bronislaw Komorowski, Radoslaw Sikorski, Bogdan Klich and Tomasz Siemoniak, and former deputy defense minister Janusz Zemke.

(KA)