Albania tells Washington of willingness to send more troops to Iraq

AP | 4/19/04

[kattracks]

TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- Albania, a predominantly Muslim country, told the United States it was prepared to send more non-combat troops to Iraq, the government said Monday, in a possible expansion of the 71-member-strong contingent patrolling the northern city of Mosul under U.S. command.

Despite the small number of Albanian forces, the public commitment from Tirana was bound to be welcome news to the United States after Spain's weekend announcement that it was withdrawing its 1,300-member contingent as soon as possible.

Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami made the offer Friday in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The statement did not say what the increase would be. But earlier this month the defense ministry said it was considering increasing its commitment to 200 soldiers, despite the recent terrorist attacks against members of the U.S.-led coalition.

"We have expressed our readiness to positively respond to the request for additional forces and we are working to set the practical details to achieve that," the minister was quoted as telling Powell.

Albania was one of the most vocal backers of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Although it was unable to provide significant military support, it opened its airspace and offered U.S.-led forces the use of its bases.

[AdmSmith]

Positive news.

[areafiftyone]

This is good. Thank you Albania.

[Shqipo]

Rrofte ushtare Shqiperia! It's one of those days I'm glad God granted me life to Albanian parents and not Spanish.

[threat matrix]

Coalition of the willing bump!

[xzins]

They are islamic....anyone know if the Albs are sunni or shi'ite. (I'd guess they are sunni.)

[Peach]

Thank you Albania!

[Reader of news]

Most of Spanish are cowards as his new President. I'm very ashamed.
Thank you Albania.

[Reader of news]

Most of Spaniards are cowards as his new President. I'm very ashamed.
Thank you Albania.

[Polyxene]

It's nice to know who your friends are!! The old soviet eastern bloc countries know what freedom is all about!

[Shqipo]

Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.

[Shqipo]

Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.

[Shqipo]

Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.

[Shqipo]

Sorry about the triple reply, Freepers. All this Woodward/Kerry/Iraq propoganda on the nets has given me an itchy trigger finger.

[nothingnew]

send more non-combat troops

What are their duties, if not combat?

FMCDH

[expatpat]

Maybe -- but the Albanians are largely Muslim, and have a strong underworld like the Mafia.

[vooch]

are they going to follow the precedent of their KLA cousins who've been taking pot shots at US and NATO soldiers since June 1999 in Kosovo ?

So far some 80 soldiers have died in Kosovo, almost all at the hands of the KLA

[mtbopfuyn]

Thank you, Albania.

[Becki]

Rrofte ushtare Shqiperia! It's one of those days I'm glad God granted me life to Albanian parents and not Spanish.

God bless Albania.

Thank you for being one of the willing!

Becki

[RetiredArmy]

From a country that knew for 50 years what it was like to live under communism's iron fist. They know how much freedom means and costs. Good going!