Who'd have expected this?

The highlight of President BushÂ’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.”

Much of the pro-American sentiment stems from the time of Woodrow Wilson and his efforts to ensure that Albania would be an independent country. But I personally suspect that the Albanians, who suffered under what may have been the most oppressive regime behind the Iron Curtain, probably recognize that the US really is still the beacon of liberty for the world.

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Posted by: Greg at 02:17 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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