Macedonian Defense Minister Visits His Troops in Iraq

Defend America News ^ | Oct 19,2005 | Army Sgt. Matthew Wester

[SandRat]

Defense Minister Jovan Manasijevski said his country
is committed to being a part of the multinational coalition in Iraq.

By U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Wester
3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Oct. 19, 2005 — Macedonian Rangers stood in formation and proudly displayed their nation's red-and-gold flag during a special visit from Defense Minister Jovan Manasijevski Oct. 11.

"We will stay until the mission is accomplished."

Macedonian Defense Minister Jovan Manasijevski

The defense minister, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Miroslav Stojanovski, the senior officer of the Macedonian Armed Forces, spoke to the soldiers, toured the Macedonian living quarters and discussed military issues with American officers of 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

"This is a special day for us," Manasijevski said "We are celebrating with our troops our national holiday of liberation from the Germans in 1944."

Macedonian pop star Aleksandra Pileva sings the Macedonian national anthem during a visit by Macedonian government officials to Camp Taji, Iraq, Oct. 11, 2005. The Macedonian Defense Minister and others came to visit Macedonian troops at Camp Taji. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Wester

Manasijevski said his country was the only one in Europe to liberate itself from the Germans with native troops and that the Macedonian Rangers serving in Iraq are continuing a legacy of freedom fighting.

He said service in Iraq was "a unique opportunity in the process of shaping our armed forces."

Jovan Manasijevski, Macedonian Minister of Defense, talks to Macedonian Maj. Gen. Miroslav Stojanovski, Chief of General Staff, Oct. 11, 2005, during a visit with Macedonian troops at Camp Taji, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Wester

The Republic of Macedonia is a nation in southeastern Europe, north of Greece and west of Bulgaria. Most Americans know it as the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

Manasijevski said his country is committed to being a part of the multinational coalition in Iraq.

Jovan Manasijevski, Macedonian Minister of Defense, greets one of his soldiers during a visit to Camp Taji, Iraq, Oct. 11, 2005. A platoon of Macedonian Rangers works with U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Taji. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Wester

"We will stay until the mission is accomplished," he said.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Anthony Wright, commander of 70th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, is happy to have the Macedonian Rangers serving as a quick-reaction force for his battalion. He said he served with Macedonians during the liberation of Iraq in 2003 and asked to work with them again during this tour.

Wright said the Ranger Platoon is a very professional, disciplined unit and has contributed greatly to his unit's operations northwest of Baghdad.

Stojanovski, chief of staff of Macedonia's Army and part of the group of officials who visited Camp Taji, told his soldiers he has received feedback from American officers about the professionalism and skill of the Macedonian Rangers.

The officials brought the Rangers a special surprise from their native land.

Aleksandra Pileva, a well-known Macedonian singer performed with the 3rd Infantry Division "Fokus Band." She delighted the troops with an emotional rendition of the Macedonian national anthem and then sang American pop songs.

The soldiers also spoke with reporters from their home country, allowing them to send messages to their families hundreds of miles away.

[SandRat]

Allies in Iraq PING!

[GOP_Party_Animal]

I wonder if this is the first time Macedonia has had troops in Iraq since Alexander The Great.

[SandRat]

ooooooo! I hadn't even thought of that. Alexander the Great!!!

[MikefromOhio]

Macedonia had troops in what was babylon for a while after Alexander's death, but the Generals that were left in charge after his death eventually fought each other over the entire empire and were taken over (eventually) by the Romans.

[Calpernia]

Manasijevski said his country was the only one in Europe to liberate itself from the Germans with native troops and that the Macedonian Rangers serving in Iraq are continuing a legacy of freedom fighting.

He said service in Iraq was "a unique opportunity in the process of shaping our armed forces."

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[bruin66]

Most Americans know it as the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

After the movie, I thought it was Alexander the Fabulous...

[apro]

PBS had a great documentary "In the Footsteps of Alexander" which tells about his real story and conquest of the East. Great site.

http://www.mpt.org/programsinterests/mpt/alexander/

[mark502inf]

The Makos are good allies. We helped them over a decade ago when they split off from Milosevic by sending a battalion of infantry to their northern border to deter Serb aggression. They have not forgotten that and have supported us in UN votes and with troops in Iraq & Afghanistan.

[toothfairy86]

My cousin, from Macedonia, served 3 years in Afghanistan. The Macedonians have a very real incentive to fight along with the US in the war on terror. Where do you think the ethnic Albanians living in Macedonia are getting their weapons and drug supply?

[mark502inf]

Where do you think the ethnic Albanians living in Macedonia are getting their weapons and drug supply?

The drug smuggling route thru Macedonia involves ethnic Albanians, Bulgarians, Turks, and Serbs either as sources, recipients or smugglers of the drugs. While there are ethnic rivalries between those groups, somehow the business part always gets done!

The value-added of Albanians to smuggling is an obscure language, strong clan loyalties, and the fact that the international boundaries laid down in London and Versailles at the break-up of the Ottoman Empire left half the Albanian population outside Albania and living in what are now parts of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Kosovo. As a result, clan ties spread across current borders, providing a convenient pathway for ethnic Albanian smugglers.

As to weapons, the Albanians have a gun culture that goes way back--the 2001 weapons turn-in at the time of the Ohrid Accord produced WWII Thompson smg's, Lee-Enfield rifles, etc. However, they kept their more modern stuff--most of which is from the Albanian military stockpiles looted when that country fell apart in 1997. Those stockpiles also produced the weapons and ammunition that made the KLA into a viable fighting force in 1998.