President Bush is asking Congress to establish a $400 million to pay back nations that participated in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the United States. Mr. Bush met with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and pledged $100 million of the money towards Poland.

Bush called the money a 'solidarity initiative' and said it was included in the $80 billion supplemental spending requested for the war in Iraq.

Bush lauded the effort of the Polish people after meeting with Kwasniewski. 'Poland has been a fantastic ally because the president and the people of Poland love freedom,' Bush said. 'I know the people of your country must have been thrilled when the millions of people went to the polls' in Iraq.

Critics claim that Bush is merely attempting to keep what's left of the coalition together. Since the start of the war in Iraq, Spain, Singapore, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Thailand, Philippines, Norway and Honduras have all dropped out of the American-led coalition.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan released a statement saying, 'These funds … reflect the principle that an investment in a partner in freedom today will help ensure that America will stand united with stronger partners in the future. This assistance will support nations that have developed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other partners promoting freedom around the world.'

The ironic thing is that Americans will now have to pay for the support of the other members of what Mr. Bush once called 'the coalition of the willing.' Meanwhile, the war in Iraq rages on.