Albania loves U.S. chiefs

George W. Bush, rock star? Only in Albania. That’s the attitude of many in the United States about the contrast between the president’s abysmal approval ratings in this country and eight rapturous hours in Albania.

The president certainly deserved the welcome from the Albanians, in part because he’s the first U.S. president to visit the small European country, and in larger part because he has unequivocally endorsed independence for neighboring Kosovo, a region with many ethnic Albanians.

But U.S. presidents of whatever stripe are extraordinarily welcome in Albania.
Since 1990, when the current president’s father helped push aside repressive Communist governments — including the one in Albania — the United States has been in very good standing in that little country.

Then-President Clinton authorized military action on behalf of Kosovo, another case where the United States took the lead in saving Muslim lives in eastern Europe. Now President Bush’s visit and pledge on Kosovo is another happy moment for Albanians.
America isn’t unpopular everywhere in Europe, as Bush’s trip to Albania reminded us.

Source: 2theadvocate