The mouse that roared.(Seriously)

Another G8 Summit has passed and the hardly earth-shattering resolutions that have sprung forth from the leaders of the world's eight most industrialized nations have largely failed to impress just about anyone. What did truly amaze people though was the sheer enthusiasm the people of Albania seem to have for the United States. The response to President Bush's post-G8 visit to the small eastern European country--the first by any US president--was arguably one of the most rapturous he has ever had, or is likely to again.

The Albanian Parliament has even gone so far as to pass a resolution allowing 500 US Special Forces troops to operate freely in the country and use any means necessary 'including the use of force' on Albanian citizens to protect the President. One story that has been widely quoted by the likes of Time magazine and others is that the exuberance of the nation was so great that the top-selling Korrieri magazine ran a headline: 'Please occupy us!'

However, it turns out that the US media may have missed the sarcasm in the headline, as it sat above an article which criticized the Parliament's decision to allow foreign troops to operate in Albania, arguing that the decision meant Albanians were 'unworthy of being masters of their own house'. But let's not allow that to spoil the festivities.

The internet is rife with speculation that at one public appearance where the President had his hands kissed by adoring Albanians, he may have had his wristwatch swiped, though the White House strongly denies this. Numerous online auction sites now claim to be selling the watch, but human rights experts suggest that with 500 Special Forces personnel on hand, the watch has probably been swiftly recovered with the thief probably shackled, drugged and on a rendition flight with Dick Cheney to Kazakhstan as you read this. Opinion is divided over whether the timepiece was a Mickey Mouse or a Snoopy one and whether the President had it on the right way round ... but only time will tell.