Emerging European Democracies Sound Off

Newsday.com ^ | Feb. 24, 2003 | WILLIAM J. KOLE

[FairOpinion]

BUDAPEST, Hungary.

"It was terrible living under a dictatorship," she said in her office, decorated with an aerial photo of the World Trade Center rubble. "We've earned the right to no longer be told what to say or do."

Small but spirited, Hungary and a dozen other democracies emerging behind the former Iron Curtain have found a bold new voice in the squabble over how to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.

Despite their economic, political and military weaknesses, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and other nations responded by pulling together and repeating their gratitude for American help in shaking off communism 13 years ago.

[FairOpinion]

Nice to see some countries being familiar with the word "gratitude".

[sockmonkey]

I just returned from Poland and the Czech Republic. The people I met are totally on board with the US. Ronald Reagan is their hero. They view Chirac as a worm.
In Prague on the 15th about 250 people showed up for the anti-war protest. In a city of two million, it's certainly not the voice of the majority.
Unfortunately (IMHO) most folks in these two countries view entrance into the EU as some magic cure for what ails them. I hope that Chirac's latest actions will open their eyes to what they can expect from their older siblings in the EU.
If anyone is planning on going abroad, spend your time and dollars in the New Europe. They are most welcoming of Americans, and I'd rather spend my money in those countries, than in the Axis of Weasels.

[dfwgator]

I concur, I think that Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the other states should form their own bloc to counter the EU. They can then be free to make deals with the EU and the US, for their benefit and bargain from a position of strength, rather than as the poor step child of Germany and France.

[Stultis]

I concur, I think that Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the other states should form their own bloc to counter the EU.

And call it "The Warsaw Pact," just to p.o. the lefties and Saddam luvin' Ruskies.