Happy Independence Day to Europe's newest country - Pridnestrovie!

Like the story of the "Little Engine That Could", who refused to be bested by what others thought but heroically made its own way with the motto, "I think I can", Pridnestrovie is truly the little country that can.

September 2nd is the 17th anniversary of Pridnestrovian independence. Refusing to listen to nay-sayers in the post-Soviet era, Pridnestrovians went about their business with aplomb and verve to build a country of their own.

While some have said that it is too small, too landlocked, too poor, too hard to defend, and on and on, the fact is that Pridnestrovie is twice the size of Luxembourg, and more heavily populated than a dozen other UN member states. Government is modeled after the American ideal of separation of powers with separate Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches with a number of political parties vying for political office.

A proud country on the move, Pridnestrovie fought and won its war of independence against the larger Moldova who invaded its territory in 1992, seeking to annex it. This is much as America fought its own war against the large British Empire in the 18th Century to establish its freedom.
Close to a thousand Pridnestrovians died in this war to firmly establish their homeland as an independent State.

Since independence in 1990 and winning its war of independence in 1992 Pridnestrovie has not been involved in rhetoric, nor political suppression, but rather in building a modern State in accordance with modern concepts of freedom and free enterprise. A country with its own army, court system, currency, and borders, Pridnestrovie has outstripped Moldova in prosperity, industry, and freedom. It is one of the true success stories of modern "emerging states".

Interestingly, President Igor Smirnov is the son of a political prisoner. The opposition party controls parliament demonstrating a true multi-party state representing the more than 35 ethnic groups within Pridnestrovie. America, while it has not yet recognized the country officially, is one its largest trading partners and one of the top customers for Pridnestrovian steel. Increasingly recognized by other states and progressive governments, Pridnestrovie is truly the little country that can.

Professor William G. von Peters is a Major General, U.S. Service Corps.
He previously published "The popular will of the people can never be illegitimate".
The opinions expressed here are his own.