"XX is probably the most pro-American country on Earth"

Guess which country is the "XX" in this quote (from its ambassador in Washington), then see for yourself. Unfortunately for Karen Hughes, the contributing factors (including one that's not mentioned -- a huge in-country CIA operation) are not so easily replicated.

Comments

[Gary Gunnels]

I suppose the other problem is that sending a few troops there hardly is proof of Albania being "pro-American." I'd like to see some opinion polls on the matter.

[joe]

Yup, Bill Clinton made us a lot of friends with his foreign policy.

I still remember the crowds of West Bank Palestinians waving American flags. You don't see that every day.

[cdunlea]

It's great that we still have allies among the Bronze Age societies.

[Gary Gunnels]

cdunlea,

Ha ha ha. 🙂

[SR]

There's also the fact that the US is providing the Albanians with at least $40 million a year in aid. That buys a lot of compliant politicians in a country with a population of only around 3.5 million and a per capita GDP of $1,350.

[George W. Bush]

Don't forget Poland.

[tomWright]

Albania is a real place? I thought that only existed in 'The Mouse That Roared'.

[Gary Gunnels]

BTW, I love the line of thought about Albanians being under a former dictatorship and how that influences their leaders' decisions. If that were the case then most of Eastern Europe would be supporting the U.S.!

[Lord Duppy]

The funny thing about Albania is how many times it's changed hands. First the natives, then the Romans, then the Huns, then the Byzantines, then the Ottomans, and then independence for a while after WWI. Then Italy just before WWII, and the Soviets afterward.

Maybe Iraq will conquer them next.

[kevrob]

Tom:

Wibberly's micro-state was The Duchy of Grand Fenwick. You may be remembering the Dilbert strips' Elbonia.

Kevin

[SPD]

Freedonia also lends us their unwavering support. I feel safer already.

[Ion Enverson]

Have your laughs, decadent captitalists. After we create Greater Albania from the liberated lands in Kosova and Makedonia we will declare the Albanian Empire and drive the Turks, Bulgars and Serbs from the Balkans!

[Gary Gunnels]

Ion Everson,

The Balkans are a shitpile. You can have them. 🙂

[Anders M.L.]

Somehow, I always come to think of Wag the dog whenever someone mentions that country.

- Albania? What have they ever done to us?
- What did they ever do for us?

[Jeff Fecke]

Albania, Albainia
You Border On The Adriatic
Your Terrain is Mostly Mountainous
And Your Chief Export is Chrome!

[Ion Enverson]

Enjoy your jokes, soft Westerners!

When our armies march out of the mountain fastnesses we'll make the Gothic Wars look like the Danish War of 1864!

Albania, onward to Rome!

[joe]

"After we create Greater Albania from the liberated lands in Kosova and Makedonia we will declare the Albanian Empire and drive the Turks, Bulgars and Serbs from the Balkans!"

What the hell kind of a threat is that?

We'll give you for F-16s if you let us forget you exist. 🙂

[John]

People who have actually lived under totalitarian governments the United States has helped end tend to like us. Well healed, overindulged, Westerners who have spent their entire lives directly, indirectly enjoying the benifits of our society, culture, and military protection, at comparatively little or no cost to themselves tend to hate us like petulent children. Go figure.

[Mo]

Wasn't the exchange student in the Simpsons Albanian? He was the one that buttered up Homer to get the SNPP nuclear secrets.

[SPD]

John,

It's all about gratitude. Some got it, some don't.

[Je crache sur vous!]

People who have actually lived under totalitarian governments the United States has helped end tend to like us. Well healed, overindulged, Westerners who have spent their entire lives directly, indirectly enjoying the benifits of our society, culture, and military protection, at comparatively little or no cost to themselves tend to hate us like petulent children. Go figure.

Que voulez-vous dire, "Go figure" ? Americain Idiot!

[Randy]

Don't they live in mud? Oh, wait...that's Elbonia. Same difference.