So. According to the The Guardian, the Prime Ministers of Albania and Slovakia are breaking with Germany and France and taking an even more pro-Bush, pro-war stance than the 8 national leaders mentioned yesterday. Which means we now have 10 European countries backing us and 2 against, with only a few fence-straddlers left. In the meantime, Bush is personally on a diplomatic blitz to drum up more support for the coalition, according to the State Department.

What's the big deal? Well, let's see. They were all under the thumb of brutal mass-murdering totalitarian dictators only a little more than a decade ago. Meanwhile, the 60 years ago, the French and the Germans... well, it would be rude to say, wouldn't it? But why is it that I think the folks from eastern Germany are just a wee bit less hostile to this whole matter than their inexcusable snot of a Prime Minister?

The article emphasizes how small the military of these countries is, and underplays how useful some of their bases on the Black Sea will be. Which is silly, because everyone knows that troop strength is the one thing we're least worried about, and basing the thing we've been most worried about. Besides, who ever said we needed any of France's soldiers anyway? What would they do, cook for us?

Yes, the troops from Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Denmark, and several other coalition members will be useful. We have every reason to be grateful to those brave folks. But the bases and the moral support are no small thing.