Only in Albania...

I took this photo on another one of my "I can't sleep so I'll go explore the city" 6am wlaks. Yah you read that right. George W. Bush Road. And it's a nice road too, right in the middle of the city. I mean it would be one thing if it was the local fish market or sewage treatment plant... but c'mon! Think about it, politics aside, they named a major street after one of the most controversial and reviled men in recent history. I can't think of any other country in the world where he would get an honour even close to this. I think he'd have trouble getting a name change for the road out to Crawford Ranch.

So here's the story. Towards the trail end of his presidency, (when he was doing about 25% approval ratings back home, never mind around the world,) Bush-i came to visit lil' ol' Albania.

At a time when most of the world greeted him like this... (and still do)

Albanians line the streets to welcome him like this...

Why? Well America has long been Albania's patron in Europe and has worked hard to get it into NATO and has pressured the EU to let Albania in. America was one of the first nations to recognize the independence of Kosovo, and helped end the war between Kosovo and Serbia with the bombing of Belgrade. In fact Albania, for a lagre part, owes it's existence to America when after WWI, at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson dismissed a plan by the European powers to divide Albania among its neighbours. And its not just a one way street. Albania has been a staunch(if not terribly helpful) ally in the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. Albania has 250 troops in Afghanistan comprising 0.25 % of the international force there. 120 special forces troops were sent to Iraq as well.

So America can do no wrong in Albanians's eyes, and this just might be the only country in the world, (excluding the US itself,) where I might be better off lying and telling people I'm American.

lol . Check my boy Jon Stewart.

http://crooksandliars.com/media/play/wmv/1549/