Mr. Bush hailed the transformation of the Balkans in a speech in a town square in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
Croatians filled St. Mark's square Saturday to celebrate, standing in front of the great stone cathedral that has watched over Zagreb for centuries.
Fresh from the NATO summit that invited Croatia to join the alliance, President Bush talked about how that country has left a troubled past behind to become a free state.
"The Croatian people have overcome war and hardship to build peaceful relations with your neighbors and to build a maturing democracy in one of the most beautiful countries on the face of the earth," said Mr. Bush.
Croatia was one of three Balkan countries deemed by NATO leaders to meet the criteria for membership. Two - Croatia and Albania - are beginning the admission process immediately. The third - Macedonia - must wait until it settles a name dispute with its neighbor, Greece.
The heart of the matter:
Leaders of all three countries were on hand in Zagreb for the celebration. As they looked on, President Bush made a vow. He said, "Henceforth, should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO alliance will stand with you. And no one will be able to take your freedom away."
He noted that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have all deployed troops to Afghanistan, and Croatian and Albanian forces have served in Iraq. He said as countries that have experienced life under repression, they are serving as an example to others.
"There are those who actually wonder if people were better off under their old tyranny. You can tell them that freedom is the only real path to prosperity, security and peace," said the U.S. president.
That's what the opposition to the Iraq invasion don't understand. Strangely, those same people say of the US that we should remember the Franklin quote, "He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security."
Why doesn't that apply to other nations? In my mind it applies to every human being on earth who desires freedom. Which would be (almost) everyone.
Welcome to NATO, Croatia and Albania. We're in this together.
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