November 22, 2002

Lithuania Celebrates Bush Visit

President Bush's trip to Lithuania, the first visit ever by an American president, is a dream come true, a powerful affirmation of the Baltic nation's place beside Western nations.
[...]
"The victims who died for independence did not do so in vain," said Antanas Sakalauskas, whose legs were run over by a tank at the TV tower [during a Freedom fighters' standoff with the Soviets in 1991].
Bush's visit has "huge meaning," said Sakalauskas, 50, an information technology engineer who walks with a severe limp. "It is acknowledgment that we are a democratic country that can be accepted in serious company."
Bush was traveling to Vilnius after a NATO summit in the Czech Republic, where the alliance invited Lithuania to join Thursday along with Latvia, Estonia and four other nations that were in Moscow's Cold War orbit.
"In 1991, 1992, 1993, we dreamed that Lithuania might someday join NATO. It seemed very distant," Jezerskas said. "President Bush's visit means we are ready."
[...]Bush is also rewarding a country that — size notwithstanding — has cooperated avidly with the U.S.-led anti-terror campaign, sending 40 special forces troops to serve in Afghanistan , Defense Minister Linas Linkevicius said.

Well, Bless their hearts!
These poor people in the last century suffered both Nazi and Soviet occupation: Freedom and Independence have real meaning for Lithuanian citizens!
And many fine Americans have Lithuanian roots or blood, so this visit by our President and what it means is very, very good.
Another Bush "charm offensive" Coup!

Yahoo Caption: ""President George W. Bush greets citizens in Vilnius, Lithuania, November 23, 2002. Bush praised the Baltic nations for defeating tyranny and told the NATO invitees they had the full protection of American military might in confronting any future aggression."