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Albania tells Washington of willingness to send more troops to Iraq
AP | 4/19/04

Posted on 04/19/2004 7:47:13 AM PDT by kattracks

TIRANA, Albania (AP) -- Albania, a predominantly Muslim country, told the United States it was prepared to send more non-combat troops to Iraq, the government said Monday, in a possible expansion of the 71-member-strong contingent patrolling the northern city of Mosul under U.S. command.

Despite the small number of Albanian forces, the public commitment from Tirana was bound to be welcome news to the United States after Spain's weekend announcement that it was withdrawing its 1,300-member contingent as soon as possible.

Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami made the offer Friday in a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The statement did not say what the increase would be. But earlier this month the defense ministry said it was considering increasing its commitment to 200 soldiers, despite the recent terrorist attacks against members of the U.S.-led coalition.

"We have expressed our readiness to positively respond to the request for additional forces and we are working to set the practical details to achieve that," the minister was quoted as telling Powell.

Albania was one of the most vocal backers of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Although it was unable to provide significant military support, it opened its airspace and offered U.S.-led forces the use of its bases.



TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: albania; allies; balkans; friends; waronterror
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1 posted on 04/19/2004 7:47:18 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks; Destro
Positive news.
2 posted on 04/19/2004 7:49:42 AM PDT by AdmSmith
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To: kattracks
This is good. Thank you Albania.
3 posted on 04/19/2004 7:58:54 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: kattracks
Rrofte ushtare Shqiperia! It's one of those days I'm glad God granted me life to Albanian parents and not Spanish.
4 posted on 04/19/2004 7:59:33 AM PDT by Shqipo (Send in the Shqiptares!)
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To: kattracks
Coalition of the willing bump!


5 posted on 04/19/2004 8:08:11 AM PDT by threat matrix
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To: kattracks
They are islamic....anyone know if the Albs are sunni or shi'ite. (I'd guess they are sunni.)
6 posted on 04/19/2004 8:08:26 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army and Proud of It!)
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To: kattracks
Thank you Albania!
7 posted on 04/19/2004 8:12:03 AM PDT by Peach
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To: Shqipo
Most of Spanish are cowards as his new President. I'm very ashamed.
Thank you Albania.
8 posted on 04/19/2004 8:14:46 AM PDT by Reader of news
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To: Shqipo
Most of Spaniards are cowards as his new President. I'm very ashamed.
Thank you Albania.
9 posted on 04/19/2004 8:15:02 AM PDT by Reader of news
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To: kattracks
It's nice to know who your friends are!! The old soviet eastern bloc countries know what freedom is all about!
10 posted on 04/19/2004 8:16:16 AM PDT by Polyxene (Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room.- Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: xzins
Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.
11 posted on 04/19/2004 8:17:27 AM PDT by Shqipo (Albania saves Europe from Islam in 15th Century.)
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To: xzins
Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.
12 posted on 04/19/2004 8:17:46 AM PDT by Shqipo (Albania saves Europe from Islam in 15th Century.)
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To: xzins
Albanian Muslims are equally divided between Sunni and Bektashi (most liberal sect of Islam). Albanian Christians are both Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and all of Europe would have been Islamicized in the 15th Century if The Albanians didn't rout and humble the Ottoman legions for 25 years under their great commander Skenderbeg. While the rest of Europe sat on their asses, the Albanians fought off the mightiest Islamic Armies of Mehmed and Murad II, saving Rome and the papacy before finally being overrun. It is a forgotten legacy that took 500 years for Albania to free itself from, as it forged independence in 1912.
13 posted on 04/19/2004 8:18:03 AM PDT by Shqipo (Albania saves Europe from Islam in 15th Century.)
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To: Shqipo
Sorry about the triple reply, Freepers. All this Woodward/Kerry/Iraq propoganda on the nets has given me an itchy trigger finger.
14 posted on 04/19/2004 8:20:59 AM PDT by Shqipo (Sorry Freepers)
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To: kattracks
send more non-combat troops

What are their duties, if not combat?

FMCDH

15 posted on 04/19/2004 8:38:31 AM PDT by nothingnew (The pendulum is swinging and the Rats are in the pit!)
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To: AdmSmith
Maybe -- but the Albanians are largely Muslim, and have a strong underworld like the Mafia.
16 posted on 04/19/2004 8:41:16 AM PDT by expatpat
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To: Shqipo; joan
are they going to follow the precedent of their KLA cousins who've been taking pot shots at US and NATO soldiers since June 1999 in Kosovo ?

So far some 80 soldiers have died in Kosovo, almost all at the hands of the KLA

17 posted on 04/19/2004 9:01:17 AM PDT by vooch
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To: kattracks
Thank you, Albania.
18 posted on 04/19/2004 9:04:25 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: Shqipo
Rrofte ushtare Shqiperia! It's one of those days I'm glad God granted me life to Albanian parents and not Spanish.

God bless Albania.

Thank you for being one of the willing!

Becki

19 posted on 04/19/2004 9:11:40 AM PDT by Becki (Pray continually for our leaders and our troops.)
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To: kattracks
From a country that knew for 50 years what it was like to live under communism's iron fist. They know how much freedom means and costs. Good going!
20 posted on 04/19/2004 9:35:04 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American Way! Toby Keith)
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