So I saw this clip of Bush getting mobbed by Albanians from this weekend. Wow, dude is popular.
Is it just because he represents America and Albania wants in with NATO, as the article suggests? Or is there something else going on? Are these folks the same ones we see in Michael Jackson concert footage crying?
The US has been one of the strongest supporters of former eastern-bloc countries joining NATO (much to the chagrin of Mr. Putin). The Albanians also have an extremely strong interest in the Balkans conflicts which happened right next door. Kosovo is 90% ethnically Albanian and Bush has been a strong proponent of Kosovo’s proper independence for some time.
ETA: There’s also the fact that Albania pretty much never gets visits from major world leaders, and has never received a US President. So there’s bound to be some excitement.
My theory: back when the Turks ruled the region, the Albanians were the Ottomans’ greatest loyalists in the Balkans, converting to Islam en mass. Under Soviet domination, they cheerfully adopted - and never really abandoned - a strict form of Stalinism. Now America is the empire de jour. There might be something in the Albanian national character that makes them susceptable to the influence of the dominant Great Power.
Now that’s what I call fighting ignorance.
Thanks, all!
Where’s the clip? Your link just takes me to a news article describing how he got mobbed like a rock star. I’m sorry but that just doesn’t do it for me.
I’ve seen a clip. It goes a long way to solidifying a claim that Albania IS the Bizzarro World.
Speaking of strange Albanians, the only entertainment celebrity of Albanian descent who comes to mind is the late, great John Belushi (I’m not counting his brother Jim). John Belushi was pretty bizarre, if utterly delightful…
Heh, I can’t imagine anything closer to a parallel universe. Have they heard of Paris Hilton? If they haven’t, I think that about seals it.
Notice about 55 seconds in that someone in the crowd steals the President’s watch.
Nice catch, Struan. I thought you were kidding but yes, it really does disappear amidst all the arm grabbing. Probably accidental but hilarious nevertheless.
Bush is riding on Bill Clinton’s coattails.
Milosovic undertook an ethnic cleansing of Kosova which is 90% ethnic Albanian. The ethnic Albanians were driven from their homes and villages were burned by Serbian soldiers. NATO took exception and the US undertook a bombing campaign to stop the ethnic cleansing. The ethnic Albanians have been huge supporters of America ever since.
The largest city in Kosova is Prishtina. The main road through Prishtina is named Bill Clinton Blvd. There is a very visible replica of the Statue of Liberty. When Clinton visited he was treated like a god.
The Albanians (who are mostly Muslim), remain grateful to the US. Bush therefore decided to visit the one country in the world that would give him a warm welcome.
They mistook him for Norman Wisdom. What with Iraq, Katrina and all it was an understandable mistake so cut them some slack.
As the duly-appointed representative of ex-King Zog of Albania, I resemble that remark.
I thought Bush was the first US Prez to ever have visited Albania?
I think friedo is probably right about recognition being a factor, along with whatever other political things are at play.
I say this as a Nebraska native, and I’ve seen something similar at home. Nebraska is one of those states frequently laughed at, mocked, complained about, or gazed down at with utter boredom by “important people” as they fly from one coast to the next. It gets old.
So when someone IMPORTANT comes to Nebraska, many people go apeshit. Even if the “important” person is someone whose work or platform or whatever isn’t something they generally admire or agree with.
Clinton visited Kosovo.
Your Nebraska analogy has some validity but there is a flaw. Bush had no reason to go to Albania other than to get a warm welcome. He can support independence for Kosovo without going to the trouble and expense of making a stop in Albania. The visit had to have been an expensive security headache.
Everybody dumps on the Albanians. They are not well received or well treated in other countries. They are not about to forget that the US protected a lot of Albanian people. While the ethnic Albanians are mostly Muslims they reject Islamic fundamentalism. During the ethnic cleansing they were much happier getting aid from NATO than turning to countries like Saudi Arabia. They didn’t want the Islamic fundamentalists to have too much influence over them.
Bush is an unpopular president, particularly oversees. However, he is an American and to most Albanians that is good.
Well there was that kid who stayed with The Simpsons when Bart did an exchange and went to France.
FWIW, the White House denies that the President’s watch was ripped off: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/12/mystery-surrounding-bushs-watch-solved/
I bet Bush thought he was in Alabama. He did once famously confuse Slovakia with Slovenia.