I am a Kosovar Albanian and I do not agree with many policies of the current US administration. However, President Bush is a legal representative od the USA and Albanians happen to be very fond of America. There is no shame in admitting publicly that you are someone's friend, even if they are not in their finest moment. In fact, it may be that only true friends do that.

Driton, Pristina, Kosovo

If Kosovo gets independence new war for the American interests in the region will be less successful for US and European alliance. Russia says its clear. Your State of Department people will be returned to reality pretty quickly.

Maxim, Moscow, Russia

Yes. They used to like Stalin, too.

Claire, Geneva, Switzerland

Bronwen - In spite of all the respect I have for you, how much do you actually know about Balcan, Serbian and Kosovan history?

Exile, London, UK

As an individual living in Kosovo for some time now I absolutely believe that Bush's stance on Kosovo last Sunday came at the right time. US and EU need to tell Russia that they cannot mess with Europe by threats. Russia has done not a single investment in Kosovo ever. Russia tried in 1999 to start a new world war by sending their troops to Kosovo without a prior agreement with the west and eight years after they are trying to start a new war by not allowing Kosovo become independent. This war would damage Europe's and US's investment of last eight years. Therefore, EU needs to take a similar stance at this very moment on the independence of Kosovo and if Russia vetos the UN resolution on Kosovo, they should unilaterally act and strengthen peace and democracy in this part of Europe which will pay back to them when this part of Europe becomes a good market for the rest of EU, and I can assure you it will be a day.

John Brown, Prishtina, Kosovo

Ms Maddox said "the best thing the President Bush has done was stand up for independence of Kosovo". Why is that Ms Maddox? Not a word of explanation as to why is it OK to take a region of one country and give it independence against the will of majority of people in that country.

Nada Narancic, London, UK

For Albanians it is Historic that the US President made his first visit, this should have happened a long time ago,As a Kosovan myself i remember,going back 20 years ago that the Albanians had admiration for US and it's policies since then, so it is not something new for them, wanting to become an ally with the land of the free.Tragically ,Enver Hoxha implemented a (Communist-Stalinist ) Regime in his Country, for which Albanians ( THE ONLY NON SLAVIC COUNTRY IN THE REGION) are still paying the price.

Gaz Krasniqi, London, UK

Another gratuitous slap on Bush. "They love him, but if you focus on what this newspaper preceives as their interests, they would hate him as much as this newspaper does." What are you guys going to do when he's gone? Bush has been too nice, wait until you get a Giuliani or Clinton in there. But then again, this newspaper might be out of business by then.

Peter Ashley, boulder, colorado

Ms Maddox, your query ' If Texas ever palls for Bush'... Believe me, that has already happened. This President could not be elected to a dog catchers post.!! He is more likely to be run out of town on a rail. He has taken the drug "Washigton DC". The symptons are a belief that one has both omniscience and is omniscient a.k.a God. This hides the real symptons which are hubris and nemesis. With his Amnesty Bill, he has finally severed all ties to this State. Actually the United States This, plus the Trans Texas Corridor and the mooted single state of Canada, Mexico and the USA, he should be thrown out of office. It was typical that he promotes the Muslims in the Balkans where they are busy destroying Churches. One would think that a "Born again Christian " might have noticed this. As this is a family paper, I have kept my temper.

Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Texas

Russia isn't likely to become a power this century with a population falling by over a million every year. At that rate, no-one will even live there in just over a century!

Meanwhile, over the pond, a 3% growth in US GDP adds more value to the world economy than *the whole* of China's output. Reports of a US demise are greatly exaggerated... whatever you may wish.

Paul Carpenter, Leeds, UK

Can't help wondering if the movie "Wag the Dog" has ever been shown in Tirana cinemas.

P.Humphrey, Athens, Greece

Hmmm American Decline? I think not deems.

Mordecai Briown, Chicago, Illinois

Dear Murph of Madisonville, USA/KY.

You see how self-centred you Americans are? The death toll from 9/11 pales in comparison to ethnic cleansing in Kosovo etc.

.. unless, American lives are worth more than others?

Pete, Cov,

The crowds cheering Mr. Bush also stole his watch. That alone seems the best commentary

Carsten Franck, Himmerland, Denmark

The "apparent threat of Al Qaeda" Ms. Maddox???????

I think 9/11 was more than a threat.

Murph, Madisonville, USA/KY

Bronwen, I think the anti-Russian rhetoric is getting a little boring. Russia is going to be a power this century while America will gradually go into decline. Get used to it.

Dima, Darwin, Australia

Being a lame duck President seems to open ones to reality. A thought provoking article.

Denver Watt, Osaka, Japan

The Albanians have a tradition of idiosyncratic choices of foreign favourites. Long before George W Bush it was Norman Wisdom.

Malcolm Williamson, Welwyn Garden City, UK

One wonders how the UK Government would react to a seccesionist local majority of one ethnic group who were trained and armed by the Chinese secret services !!! Sounds absurd but what then was the CIA doing in in the mid ninties training the UCK albanina terrorists who had links with Al-Quida when they set about to destabilise Serbia???

You can't have it both ways and what goes around invariable comes around!!! Good luck to the UK in 30-40 years time!

Your all doomed, london,