Cheers to Mongolia!

AP: Bush Cheers Mongolia for Pushing Democracy---

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia - President Bush, buffeted by unrelenting criticism at home over Iraq, on Monday saluted Mongolia's "fearless warriors" for helping his embattled effort to establish democracy in the heart of the Middle East.

"Mongolia and the United States are standing together as brothers in the cause of freedom," Bush told Mongolian troops and lawmakers in a speech at the Government House.

After two days in China partly aimed at nudging that communist country toward greater freedoms, Bush's stop here — the first by a U.S. president — was meant to showcase the first communist country in Asia to turn toward democracy. Mongolia discarded communism 15 years ago; it holds democratic elections and allows Western-style freedoms.

"You are an example of success for the region and for the world," Bush said. "As you build a free society in the heart of Central Asia, the American people stand with you."
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Bush played to Mongolia's pride in its military by publicly recognizing two soldiers who gunned down a suicide truck bomber before he could strike a mess tent in Iraq. Mongolia's force of about 160 in Iraq makes it, with its population of just 2.8 million, the third-largest contributor per capita to the coalition.

"U.S. armed forces are proud to serve beside such fearless warriors," Bush said.

The president's warm reception in this country eager for U.S. assistance and attention brought some relief from the unrelenting and acrid debate at home about his policies in Iraq. The Mongolian people, Bush said, "claimed their freedom 15 years ago and are now standing with others across the world to help them do the same."
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Bush noted that Mongolia is one of 16 countries that will share $1 billion in U.S. aid as part of an incentive program for poor countries that show a commitment to economic and government reform. The president also brought a gift — $11 million in aid to improve Mongolia's military forces through a separate program for nations allied with the U.S.-led war on terror. (emphasis added)

The President wasn't "playing" to Mongolia's pride, or, in other words, buttering them up. I have no doubt he is honestly very proud and thankful for Mongolia's assistance in the War on Terror, where so many other countries (France and Germany, etc.) turned their noses up at us and continued on their corrupt way.

That such a small country manages to be "the third-largest contributor per capita to the coalition" is something that ought to be celebrated. They are doing their part to make the world a better place, which is more than one can say for France. Contributing Champagne, w(h)ine, and cheese just doesn't cut it.

We ought to be thanking Mongolia and countries like it for spreading freedom.