Bush gets hero's reception

[ScreamingEagle]

Looks like the U.S. is still very welcome in some parts of the world...these are real world lessons about communism that our liberal leftists just want to ignore...

Jun 10, 12:53 PM EDT
Bush Urges Independence for Kosovo

TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- President Bush, enthusiastically welcomed as the first U.S. president in this former communist nation, served notice Sunday he is running out of patience with Russia's objections to independence for neighboring Kosovo.

"Sooner rather than later you've got to say `Enough's enough - Kosovo is independent,'" Bush said, telling Albanians what they wanted to hear. He said independence was a certainty.

Nearing the end of an eight-day trip, Bush got a hero's reception in this desperately poor country, still struggling to recover from being cut off from the rest of the world for four decades under the harsh rule of dictator Enver Hoxha. Hoxha died in 1985, and Albania emerged from isolation in 1990 but still is one of Europe's most impoverished lands.

Cannons boomed salutes from mountains overlooking the capital. Huge banners proclaimed "Proud to be Partners," and billboards read "President Bush in Albania Making History."

At home, Bush's job approval rating stands at its all-time low. But here, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Bush was Albania's "greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times."

Throngs of people grasped Bush's hands, arms and fingers on the streets of Fushe Kruje, a small town near the airport where he stopped to chat in a cafe with business owners. Unused to such adoring crowds in America, Bush reveled in the attention. He kissed women on the cheek, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Someone reached out and rubbed his gray hair.

"Bushie, Bushie," people shouted. Some of the business people have received small loans under U.S. government programs.

The scene was uncharacteristically wild for a presidential crowd. Bush spokesman Dana Perino said later that the Secret Service assured Bush's safety, as always. "If they didn't think the president was safe, obviously they wouldn't have put him in that position," she said.

While the United States supports Albania's bid for membership in NATO, Bush said this country still has to make more political and military reforms and crack down on corruption and organized crime.

"We are determined to take any decision, pass any law and undertake any reform to make Albania appropriate to receive the invitation" to join the western military alliance, Berisha said at a news conference with Bush.

Albania has eagerly embraced democracy and idolizes the United States. Three stamps have been issued featuring Bush's picture and the Statue of Liberty, and the street in front of parliament has been renamed in his honor.

The president spent just eight hours here and then flew to Bulgaria, another Cold War Soviet ally turned pro-American. The two stops gave an upbeat ending to Bush's six-country trip after big protests earlier in Rome and at the summit of industrialized nations in Heiligendamm, Germany.

Kosovo has been run by the United Nations and NATO since 1999, when Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic's forces were ousted after a NATO air war ended his crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of Kosovo's population.

The U.N. Security Council has been divided over Kosovo's independence. The United States and key European countries support Kosovo's statehood while Russia, traditionally a Serbian ally, opposes it. Moscow says it would set a dangerous precedent for other breakaway regions.

Bush said diplomats from the United States, Russia and European Union will try to find common ground on a formula for independence.

"But if it's apparent that that's not going to happen in a relatively quick period of time, in my judgment, we need to put forward the (U.N.) resolution," Bush said. "Hence, deadline." He did not specify a date.

Negotiations must result in "certain independence," Bush said. "That's what's important to know."

Bush said the summit in Heiligendamm had tried to determine whether there was a way to make Kosovo independence acceptable to Russia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy unexpectedly called for a delay on the issue, and the summit failed to reach agreement.

Bush urged Albania to help maintain peace and calm in Kosovo as the independence talks move forward.

Predominantly Muslim, Albania has 140 troops in Afghanistan and about 120 troops in Iraq - a presence that President Alfred Moisiu says will not end as long as the Americans are engaged there. Bush met here with some of the troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Albanians know the horror of tyranny," the president said. "And so they're working to bring the hope of freedom to people who haven't known it. And that's a noble effort and a sacrifice."

In saluting Albania's democracy, Bush praised it as a country that has "cast off the shackles of a very oppressive society and is now showing the world what's possible."

During his visit, the president had lunch with the prime ministers of Albania, Macedonia and Croatia, which hope to join NATO.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-09-10-37-57

 

[Toro]

I'm not surprised Bush is greeted warmly in Eastern Europe.

 

[Creek_George]

Looks like the U.S. is still very welcome in some parts of the world...these are real world lessons about communism that our liberal leftists just want to ignore...

Ooh Boy...(smile).

We got Albania on our side...

Liberal Lefts ignoring freedom & democracy???

We're welcomed in some parts of the world?..You should post a map of Albania..and how they have helped influence/supported U.S. Interests??

This place aint even the size of..what small ass state do you want as an example..We got 50 states..pick one...hahahaha....Half the size of Wisconsin??....(smile)

.....Welcomed my arse.

Welcomed over there?...Who goes to Albania..and who can even point the place out on a map?

As far as communism being said out of this administration..I remember all the other crap they said about the middle east.

As a matter of fact..I remember George Bush saying Putin was his "close friend" back then..

Thanks for the post..I'll let all my friends know who want to visit Europe this year,,to stay in Albania.

 

[Psychoblues]

Well, they stole his watch while he was shaking hands in Albania. How is it they can shake his hand and Americans can't even talk to him? The G-8 bunch sure told him to kiss their arses good-bye. The English ignored him, the Germans pretty much told him to fuck off, the Russians let him know they would kill him if he landed in their country, I could go on and on. Thank God for the freedom that Bill Clinton delivered to the Albanians or I don't don't think the jerk would have found a friend on the eastern side of the Atlantic.

Ain't nothing like havin' friends in low places!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I mean that as a compliment!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How about it, gunny? Should I pull out the statue thing I did for Bill Clinton in the other place? I know that you know what I'm talking about?!?!?!?!!?!?!??!?!?

 

[Psychoblues]

See this: http://usmessageboard.com/showthread.php?p=574885#post574885

It's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Annie]

See this: http://usmessageboard.com/showthread.php?p=574885#post574885

It's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Already proven false, which you knew because you read it. Didn't deter you though, always ready to spread disinformation. A liar, coward, blowhard.

 

[onedomino]

See this: http://usmessageboard.com/showthread.php?p=574885#post574885

It's GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You would think so. Only problem is that it is false, as reported on cable news. Albania is a Muslim country that suffered under totalitarian rule for 50 years. Now that it is free and wants to join the EU and NATO, you denigrate a warm welcome displayed to the American President. Typical Leftist nonsense.

 

[Psychoblues]

I am no liar, coward or a blowhard, kitty. You overstate me!!!!!!!!!

Already proven false, which you knew because you read it. Didn't deter you though, always ready to spread disinformation. A liar, coward, blowhard.

Do you care to provide links describing any lies, cowardly acts or blowharding that I have been guilty of?

Sounds to me like you are the liar, coward and certainly a blowhard. Ewwwwwwwwww. I don't even want to think about it!!!!!! Ewwwwwwwwww

For those that don't know, the Ewwwwww's were quotes from the previous poster.

 

[Psychoblues]

I didn't denigrate a damn thing, 1dominoe.

You would think so. Only problem is that it is false, as reported on cable news. Albania is a Muslim country that suffered under totalitarian rule for 50 years. Now that it is free and wants to join the EU and NATO, you denigrate a warm welcome displayed to the American President. Typical Leftist nonsense.

Are you denigrating something?

 

[Avatar4321]

Ooh Boy...(smile).

We got Albania on our side...

Liberal Lefts ignoring freedom & democracy???

We're welcomed in some parts of the world?..You should post a map of Albania..and how they have helped influence/supported U.S. Interests??

This place aint even the size of..what small ass state do you want as an example..We got 50 states..pick one...hahahaha....Half the size of Wisconsin??....(smile)

.....Welcomed my arse.

Welcomed over there?...Who goes to Albania..and who can even point the place out on a map?

As far as communism being said out of this administration..I remember all the other crap they said about the middle east.

As a matter of fact..I remember George Bush saying Putin was his "close friend" back then..

Thanks for the post..I'll let all my friends know who want to visit Europe this year,,to stay in Albania.

Albania is just one place.

India has become a major ally. So has the eastern Bloc in Europe.

Germany and France just elected major pro bush leaders by significant counts.

Millions have been donated to Africa in Aids relief by the President.

I think the real question is which are the nations this Anti-Bush/Anti-American sentiment is supposedly coming from? Seems to me its a media creation.

 

[Larkinn]

Germany and France just elected major pro bush leaders by significant counts.

Neither were elected because they were pro bush. The populations of both those countries generally dislike Bush quite a bit.

I think the real question is which are the nations this Anti-Bush/Anti-American sentiment is supposedly coming from? Seems to me its a media creation.

There are numerous polls out there that demonstrate the anti-Bush sentiment, and an increasing anti-American sentiment. Having traveled recently I can tell you that, in some parts, peoples hatred and denigration of Bush is actually noticable among the general populace.

 

[uscitizen]

All just medis hype ?

Someone must no like us or we would not be fighting em over there vs in Wally World.

Yes it is much easier and less thought required to just write it all off to the liberal media....

 

[onedomino]

Neither were elected because they were pro bush. The populations of both those countries generally dislike Bush quite a bit.



There are numerous polls out there that demonstrate the anti-Bush sentiment, and an increasing anti-American sentiment. Having traveled recently I can tell you that, in some parts, peoples hatred and denigration of Bush is actually noticable among the general populace.

That's right, much of Europe hates Bush, but it is much deeper than that, Europe is profoundly anti American; especially young French, Germans, and others. It was the same when Clinton was President. Europeans despise the "hyperpower." I lived in Munich and I saw it first hand. It must, however, disturb the European Left, that Europe is beginning to free itself from socialist policies and coming around to the American economic view.

 

[Larkinn]

That's right, much of Europe hates Bush, but it is much deeper than that, Europe is profoundly anti American; especially young French, Germans, and others. It was the same when Clinton was President

No, its not the same. The Anti-Americanism has been there for a while, but it has reached new heights during the Bush administration.

It must, however, disturb the European Left, that Europe is beginning to free itself from socialist policies and coming around to the American economic view.

Don't count on it.

 

[onedomino]

No, its not the same. The Anti-Americanism has been there for a while, but it has reached new heights during the Bush administration.



Don't count on it.

Brilliant rebuttal. Recent elections in Germany, France, and even Belgium have all moved the economic policies of those countries to the right. Are you not interested in evidence?

 

[Larkinn]

Brilliant rebuttal. Recent elections in Germany, France, and even Belgium have all moved the economic policies of those countries to the right. Are you not interested in evidence?

I am aware of all of those elections. However none of them are going to make their countries similar to America. They will likely liberalize them to some extent, but not greatly. Even Sarko with all of his talk is unlikely to make major economic reforms. Their new "right" economic policies are still policies that would be considered leftist, if not far leftist, in America.

 

[onedomino]

I am aware of all of those elections. However none of them are going to make their countries similar to America. They will likely liberalize them to some extent, but not greatly. Even Sarko with all of his talk is unlikely to make major economic reforms. Their new "right" economic policies are still policies that would be considered leftist, if not far leftist, in America.

Who said similar? Sarkozy will be no panacea for the French economy. He will, for example, retain protectionist trade policies. But Sarkozy trying to get rid of the productivity killing 35 hour work week, reducing taxes, and suppressing the relentless anti Americanism of French foreign policy, will be considered Leftist? Think again. The Left is in retreat, even in western Europe. The Spanish socialist PM, Zapatero, will be next to fall.

 

[Larkinn]

Who said similar

You said they were "coming around to the American point of view" which they are not.

He will, for example, retain protectionist trade policies. But Sarkozy trying to get rid of the productivity killing 35 hour work week, reducing taxes, and suppressing the relentless anti Americanism of French foreign policy, will be consider Leftist

Nice biases there. The French foreign policy is not "relentlessly anti-American". It is relentlessly pro-French, which does not always coincide with Americas goals.

Sarko can try to do those things, but it remains to be seen how many he will actually be able to do. He wasn't voted in on his economic policy.

The Left is in retreat, even in western Europe. The Spanish socialist PM, Zapatero, will be next to fall.

Just like the conservatives were in retreat here in the US after they got massacred after the last election?

It takes a lot to kill a political party. Don't assume one is "in retreat" until they are overwhelmingly defeated and a tiny minority. Assuming that 3 victories for "conservatives" (in America none of them would be considered conservative) means the left is in retreat is asinine.

 

[onedomino]

You said they were "coming around to the American point of view" which they are not.



Nice biases there. The French foreign policy is not "relentlessly anti-American". It is relentlessly pro-French, which does not always coincide with Americas goals.

Sarko can try to do those things, but it remains to be seen how many he will actually be able to do. He wasn't voted in on his economic policy.



Just like the conservatives were in retreat here in the US after they got massacred after the last election?

It takes a lot to kill a political party. Don't assume one is "in retreat" until they are overwhelmingly defeated and a tiny minority. Assuming that 3 victories for "conservatives" (in America none of them would be considered conservative) means the left is in retreat is asinine.

You refer to opposing positions as "asinine." In another thread you characterized an opposing position as “idiotic.” Name calling is the last bastion of the ill informed. Your pro Leftist remarks are indeed desperate. You cannot even admit that conservative election victories in the two most important countries in continental Europe, Germany and France, means that the Left is in retreat. You are in denial.

 

[Larkinn]

You refer to opposing positions as "asinine."

I refer to some opposing positions as asinine. Namely those are...quick I bet you can guess what I will say...yup, those that are asinine!

In another thread you characterized an opposing position as “idiotic.” Name calling is the last bastion of the ill informed.

They are descriptive terms and generally refer to the arguments, not the posters. Now you on the other hand make charges about posters such as assuming which side of the spectrum they are on, and saying they are "in denial". So really, save the santimonious bullshit for someone else.

You cannot even admit that conservative election victories in the two most important countries in continental Europe, Germany and France, means that the Left is in retreat. You are in denial.

You are ASSuming your opinions are true, which there is very little reason to assume. Unless, of course, you think that Conservatives in America are in retreat, considering the massive losses they suffered in the last election?

Oh and don't assume that me generally favoring liberals means that I assume my "side" will always win. Perhaps that is what you would do, but I don't. Despite the overwhelming "leftist" victory here in the states in the 06 elections, I do not think that conservatives are in a retreat. As I stated before (which you conveniently ignored to focus on my apt description of your asinine opinion) "It takes a lot to kill a political party. Don't assume one is "in retreat" until they are overwhelmingly defeated and a tiny minority."