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.

[DoughtyOne]

Albania, more backbone than France, Germany and Spain combined.

[RightWhale]

Strange how alliances shift. The West is pretty much out of Iraq, except England. England never was particularly a western country anyway. The radicals want to defeat the West, so they might as well call it a victory now and go home to their families

[Destro]

Cool for the KLA. Muslim Albanians will be even more free to kill Christian Serbs without interference from a desperate Bush administration. Maybe the Albanians can pimp out Iraq per-teens for their world wide brothels?

[blackie]

Thank you Albania ~ Coalition ~ Bump!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Destro]

Albania, a predominantly Muslim country, told the United States it was prepared to send more non-combat troops to Iraq

Thanks for what again?

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[KQQL]

An Iraqi civilian kisses the hand of U.S. Marine Cpl. Joseph Sharp from Peoria, Ill., after Marines from the 1st Battalion 5th Marines gave him a supply of food and water in Fallujah, Iraq (news - web sites), Monday, April 19, 2004. (AP Photo/John Moore)

SOURCE: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040419/481/jbm10204191624

[blackie]

Winning hearts amd minds ~ Iraq-ization!

Be Ever Vigilant!

[Remole]

"Albania . . . Albania . . . It borders on the Ad-ri-atic . . ." Anyone know the rest of the verse?

[Imal]

Thanks to Al Qaeda's defeat of Spain, there are job openings in Iraq.

Go Albania!

[BushisTheMan]

Please separate the Spanish troops from their Socialist leader. The troops have been honorable; the Socialists and their new leader have not been.

The new Spanish leader has already flip-flopped (a la Kerry) and said he would wait to June but is already pulling the troops out now.

[DoughtyOne]

Good comments. I haven't followed the Kosovo Albania et al situation very close, so you may be right on here. Thanks.

[Alter Kaker]

Ah yes, Destro always on side of terrorists against United States and allies.

[MarMema]

bravo

[MarMema]

Albania ping

[MarMema]

And you hate Greeks, according to your own posts in which you called them numerous names = but = you support Arabs. Here to support the Albanians no doubt, because you probably hate the Serbs too?

Hmmm, what's funny about this picture? And you think Destro is on the side of terrorists? I am amused.

[MarMema]

The KLA is running a great deal of heroin these days, about 40% of all in Europe, because they are such devout muslims you see.

The KLA is killing or trying to kill the peacekeepers who are there to stop them from being violent, and the KLA says it is the fault of the Americans that they are turning into roaming, rabid mobs.

The KLA is a terrific bunch of brave young men who particularly enjoy beating elderly men and women, easy targets and all.

A great deal of the peacekeeping force are extremely angry at the Albanians in Kosovo right now, all except for the French and Germans who seem to like them.

a quick catch up can be found here.

[eleni121]

Not all Albanians are Mohammedans. Many are Christian too.

[Lion in Winter]

BTTT

The Serbs are doing a great job in Afganistan I hear from some family I have in that country with the USA Army.

[Lion in Winter]

Not even 10% are Christians. Albania the biggest hole of Europe.... peewuuuuuuuu!