"The Lion of Babylon" - this was the name given to General Mieczysław Bieniek by the media during his command over Multinational Stabilization Division in Iraq. On 23 February 2005 Mieczysław Bieniek was a guest of the Polityka Salon.

"General Bieniek assured the audience that he does not mean to run for the presidency of Poland. He said that he still wants to do exactly what he is likes and is prepared to do. General Bieniek said that all the soldiers coming back from Iraq are better people with more experience. Being in Iraq they learned to appreciate life. The necessity of sending back 20 dead soldiers (of which 4 to Poland) to their countries was the greatest tragedy for him.''