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Albanian Army unit works with Coalition Forces in war on terrorism
CENTCOMNEWS ^ | Spc. L.C. Campbell

Posted on 03/03/2006 4:51:24 PM PST by SandRat

Mosul, Iraq– Albanian Army units are helping Coalition Forces fight terrorism in Iraq from a small contingency headquartered on Logistical Support Area Diamondback.

The Kommandos, 1 st Battalion, 6 th Albanian Contingent, controls the battle space east of LSA Diamondback as well as guard towers on the north end of the installation.

“We have 120 Soldiers here, but in my country all the people support our guys, and my people like freedom,” said Besnik Sokoli, commander, 6 th Albanian Contingent. “In my country, we were not struck by terrorism, but the government and people support Albanian Soldiers fighting terrorism.”

Kommando units have been supporting Coalition Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom since the beginning of 2003. They serve on six-month rotations.

“Our prime minister was here two months ago and he said Albania will be in Iraq the same amount of time as the U.S. forces,” Sokoli said. “The Soldiers are proud to fight terrorism here and to fight the global war on terrorism.”

In 2004, Sgt. Elton Abazllari, now the company advisor, was deployed to Iraq, working with U.S. Special Forces. He was wounded in his right leg by an Improvised Explosive Device. He said the situation in Mosul has greatly improved in the past year.

“Now-a-days, things are changing for the better,” Sokoli said. “Three years ago, it was the worst situation, and now it’s better because the local government is taking control and responsibility and fighting terrorism, and the coalition is supporting them.”

Sokoli’s Kommandos will be leaving Iraq in mid-April to be replaced by the Kommandos 2 nd Battalion.

“I think now terrorism is the worst sickness and all democratic countries need to put together all their forces to fight the terrorists,” Sokoli said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: albania; albanian; allies; army; balkans; coalition; forces; friends; heroes; iraq; kosovogotthethugs; notkosovo; notthekla; oif; terrorism; unit; war; works

Albanian Kommandos display defensive tactics while at Logistical Support Area Diamondback.
1 posted on 03/03/2006 4:51:26 PM PST by SandRat
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To: SandRat

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice...

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals....

Illicit drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens...CIA World Factbook


2 posted on 03/03/2006 4:57:14 PM PST by Cornpone (Who Dares Wins -- Defame Islam Today -- Tell the Truth About Mohammed)
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To: Cornpone
It is indeed good news that our valiant Albanian allies have joined the good fight against their Muslim brothers.

Soon these quaint and colorful tribesmen will control the heroin and hooker traffic in all of Iraq. The insurgents will find their vehicles and weapons stolen, their sisters in brothels from Oslo to Dubai, and their territory declared, as is most of the known world, part of The Greater Albania.

Get ready for the Pax Albanica.

3 posted on 03/03/2006 5:03:48 PM PST by Kenny Bunk (OK, how bad we hurt for 2006? Who we running in 2008?)
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To: Kenny Bunk
"Get ready for the Pax Albanica."

Brilliant!

4 posted on 03/04/2006 1:03:06 PM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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To: montyspython
Monty, what else is one to do when our beloved republic enters into an alliance with a nation whose chief source of foreign exchange is heroin, closely followed by stolen cars and stolen car parts?

Albania is not a real country, it is a chop-shop.

5 posted on 03/04/2006 2:16:09 PM PST by Kenny Bunk (OK, how bad we hurt for 2006? Who we running in 2008?)
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To: Kenny Bunk

Don't forget about white slavery, its the cherry on top.


6 posted on 03/04/2006 7:20:27 PM PST by montyspython (Love that chicken from Popeye's)
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