The prime minister of Slovakia thinks the news media have done a poor job of reporting on Iraq, thus influencing public opinion in Europe against what he believes to be a necessary element in the war on Islamofascist terrorism:

Mr. Dzurinda, who grew up under communist oppression in the Soviet bloc, said nations such as his were more supportive of Operation Iraqi Freedom because they remembered communism. Slovakia has sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq.

“I spent many years under tyranny,” he said. “So I completely understand what it means to fight for democracy — don’t take this for granted.

“Maybe this is why I understand better than Chirac or Schroeder,” he added, referring to French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, both of whom opposed the Iraq war.

Ouch.