For One Visit, Bush Will Feel Pro-U.S. Glow

The New York Times ^ | 06/09/2007 | Craig S. Smith

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

TIRANA, Albania, — The highlight of President Bush’s European tour may well be his visit on Sunday to this tiny country, one of the few places left where he can bask in unabashed pro-American sentiment without a protester in sight. Americans here are greeted with a refreshing adoration that feels as though it comes from another time. “Albania is for sure the most pro-American country in Europe, maybe even in the world,” said Edi Rama, Tirana’s mayor and leader of the opposition Socialists. “Nowhere else can you find such respect and hospitality for the president of the United States. Even in Michigan, he wouldn’t be as welcome.”

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Amazing article, especially for the NY Times, with many great lines. Worth reading.

Many Americans, including many conservatives, often have a negative view of Albania. Here are a few things, though, worth considering:

In a Gallup poll of 60 countries, the most pro-American country on Earth was determined to be...Albania.

In the initial combat phase of Operation Enduring Freedom, only three countries in addition to the U.S. provided ground troops: Great Britain, Australia, and...Albania.

The vocal support expressed by the Albanians for the U.S. can be seen in these representative statements:

America is the only country in the world that exports freedom. It brought freedom and democracy to Japan and Germany after defeating both in World War II. It rebuilt their societies and taught them about liberty. It helped bring down the Berlin Wall. That is why we wholeheartedly support the American-led effort to free the people of Iraq. (Prime Minister Fatos Nano; March 20, 2003)

We're the most pro-U.S. nation in Europe, and we're in Iraq for the long haul. (Ambassador Satos Tarisa; April 2004)

(With regard to the Albanian participation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere): The United States of America stood on the side of the Albanians in 1999 when it was a matter of the existence of our nation. I hope this proves to the American taxpayers that they have not spent their money in vain to help this nation. Our gratitude will be long-term. (Albanian Defense Minister Pandeli Majko; June 10, 2003)

We Albanians are a nation of freedom fighters who know something about living under oppression. That is why we wholeheartedly support the American-led effort to free the people of Iraq. And though we are a small country with a small military, we are proud to stand side by side with our allies in the fight to end the reign of terror in Baghdad.

Now that the fighting has begun, we expect the Albanian commandos we have sent to aid in the operation will acquit themselves well. Also, we are proud to have pledged our unconditional support in terms of additional troops, ports, bases, and air fields.

History is old. The only new thing about history is the United States. America is the only country in the world that exports freedom. When the historical occasion has called for it, the United States of America has been willing to pay the price in order to free the oppressed, even in states that have sought its harm.

It brought freedom and democracy to Japan and Germany after defeating both in World War II. It rebuilt their societies and taught them about liberty. It helped bring down the Berlin Wall hastening the process of freedom in Central and Eastern Europe. It rarely asked anything in return. Now the United States and its Coalition of the Willing will bring liberty to Iraq.

And when the Coalition of the Willing completes its work, it will be time for the Coalition of Builders to repair, restore and rebuild Iraq under the name of freedom.

We are proud to be in the company of the free.

(Prime Minister of Albania, Fatos Nano. March 20, 2003)

[sourcery]

The RNC should hire some Albanians to do PR and marketing.

[Condor 63]

Our gratitude will be long-term. (Albanian Defense Minister Pandeli Majko; June 10, 2003)

You don't hear a statement like that much anymore - from anybody.

[kabar]

US President George W Bush has said a plan for Kosovo's UN-backed independence should take effect now, despite Russian and Serbian opposition.

[GoBucks2002]

The RNC should hire some Albanians to do PR and marketing.

Maybe they have. The last RNC solicitor to call my home barely spoke English.

[cpanter]

70% Muslim. I love it. Great little story.

I wonder what Rosie the Hut and the rest of her disgusting ilk think of this country? I am going to guess she would say this: “I am sure that we are just using them for the US Torture Chambers and Oil Reserves - Eastern Headquarters.”

“Please Occupy Us!” I love it.

[ChessExpert]

My advice: don’t be too quick to get on the NYT bandwagon. It’s kind of like working up a bill with Ted Kennedy.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I know that the Kosovo business rankles with some, but one needs to realize that Albania was very pro-American long before the Kosovo crisis. Also, there are different cultural realities and political views which differentiate Albania from Kosovo.

The article hints at Albania's long-standing pro-American stance in the article:

Every school child in Albania can tell you that President Woodrow Wilson saved Albania from being split up among its neighbors after World War I, and nearly every adult repeats the story when asked why Albanians are so infatuated with the United States.

Here are some other quotes of interest from the article:

''Albania is for sure the most pro-American country in Europe, maybe even in the world,'' said Edi Rama, Tirana’s mayor and leader of the opposition Socialists. ''Nowhere else can you find such respect and hospitality for the president of the United States. Even in Michigan, he wouldn’t be as welcome.''...

One newspaper, reporting on the effusive mood, published a headline that read, ''Please Occupy Us!''...

But here in Albania, which has not wavered in its unblinking support for American policies since the end of the cold war, Mr. Bush can do no wrong. While much of the world berates Mr. Bush for warmongering, unilateralism, trampling civil liberties and even turning a blind eye to torture, Albania still loves him without restraint....

Albanians’ support for the war in Iraq is nearly unanimous, and any perceived failings of American foreign policy are studiously ignored. A two-day effort to find anyone of prominence who might offer some criticism of the United States turned up just one name, and that person was out of the country....

James A. Baker III was mobbed when he visited the country as secretary of state in 1991. There was even a move to hold a referendum declaring the country America’s 51st state around that time....

It was one of the first countries to send troops to Afghanistan and one of the first to join the forces in Iraq. It has soldiers in both places. ''They will continue to be deployed as long as the Americans are there,'' Albania’s president, Alfred Moisiu, said proudly in an interview....

''President Bush is safer in Albania than in America,'' said Ermin Gjinishti, a Muslim leader in Albania....

[mefistofelerevised]

Nice stuff. Real people with real appreciation. Better than what CNN comes up with.

[rlmorel]

ping!

[Krodg]

''President Bush is safer in Albania than in America,''

That's sad.

[iopscusa]

Well the most pro-American country on Earth was determined to be...Albania...sure thing, they got to infiltrate the US with Albania Terrorist aka Ft. Dix and SLC murderers as well as idiotic US support of independence...the Alb Muslims and the Illegal Immigrants all love Jorge...the only places in the world he gets good PR.

Wonder why Jorge is so disliked in his own country by the people that elected him?

[AmericaUnited]

Albania was one of the most repressive countries and that’s why it’s people so value FREEDOM.

[AmericaUnited]

Why don’t you crawl back under a rock. I’m really getting sick of you immigration johnny one-notes puking over every thread here.

[wildandcrazyrussian]

Well of course Albania would claim to be “pro-American”, since after all it was the United States which killed thousandas of Christians in favor of Albanian nationalism in Serbia and Macedonia. (This was a mere 50 years after the Muslim Albanians in the Skanderbeg Division on the side of the Nazis helped kill a million Christians in World War II.) Too bad to see that Bush’s advisors inherited Clinton’s lying propaganda against the Serbs.

The true test would be if the United States were NOT to do everything posisble to aid fascist Muslim nationalism. Then see what gratitude carries forward.

[dfwgator]

Albania was one of the most repressive countries and that’s why it’s people so value FREEDOM.

If Albania could recover from that nut, Hoxha, it should give some hope to North Korea, when they finally get rid of Li'l Kim.

One thing Hoxha did is to pretty much wipe out all religion in Albania, especially Islam. Whereas in Kosovo, the Yugoslav communist government was not nearly as repressive. Also most Albanians are Tosks who live in the south, while the Kosovo Albanians are Ghegs. And while there is some sympathy in Albania for the Kosovarans, they want no part of bringing them into a "Greater Albania."

[rlmorel]

Well.

I am not a “One Note Charlie” when it comes to supporting or not supporting someone. I disagree with his stance on immigration and have let him know about it, and I support him on other things, which I have also let him know.

The important question here is why Albania?

Could be that unlike some people (who can be found everywhere on earth, not to mention Free Republic and the USA) Albanians really DO understand what it is like to actually live under REAL tyranny.

[JCG]

Since 1912, Denmark has celebrated July 4th as a holiday in honor of US Independence Day.

[mefistofelerevised]

Albania is 70% muslim, the poorest country in Europe, and pro US. They are happy the United States bombed Serbia, which is something that I wasn’t happy about. The US has given Albania some financial aid, but it today’s world it didn’t seem like much. They do support US positions in international affairs. They understand they wouldn’t exist if it weren’t the the US.That is a nice change from some of the other allies.