I understand your vision of the world as you think it should be and I am not saying I disagree. But I don't think many well meaning people have any understanding of the world as it is, and that means they really aren't in a position to propose actual policies that would lead to that better world. That is fine, since most people do not have the responsibility to formulate or implement those policies.

But the people who do have that responsibility do not have the luxury of wishing. And sometimes they make the wrong choices. And sometimes they base the choices on bad or incomplete information. But the choices still have to be made.

They can't make the choices based on the wishes of people who don't understand the situation. This was very true in the Cold War and it is equally true now. The threat of Islamo-fascism is very very real. It is not based on a misunderstanding. In fact, if we understood them better and they understood us better the divide would only be greater and the struggle would intensify. It would certainly cause our side to be more aggressive.

I think the Iraq war - or at least the aftermath - was a blunder. But not because we failed to win over Saddam with good will and folk songs instead of deposing him. It was a blunder because it did not accomplish what we needed and drew resources from Afghanistan and became, as you rightly point out, a public relations nightmare. It was a blunder because it did not consider that any culture could be so nihilistic. Postwar policy did not reflect an understanding of Iraq - it was based on wishes.

I also regret the effect it had on our relations with Turkey, but that is more a product of Turkey's current internal political situation. There is also a huge amount of Wahabbi money going into Turkey to influence public opinion.

I am glad so many people see the world the way you do. If everyone did the world would be a much better place.

I am equally glad the security of my country and Western Civilization depends on people who are far more cynical, far more realistic, and who are ready to do what is necessary. We need both kinds of people. One to keep us honest - and one to keep us alive. I wish that were not true - but again, wishes are not what it is about.

This is not the same as the Cold War, but there are similarities. One of the big similarities is that there are many in the West who do not want to believe the opposing ideology really means what they say. They want to believe that all people are the same and want the same things. Stalin called them "useful idiots".

The role the US plays in Western Civilization today is unique. I sometimes wish it weren't. I wish we were perfect, I wish we did it better - and I wish we had more help. I am not pleased with our present leadership or their policies. But I don't see any leadership coming from anywhere else.

This is what I meant about it not being a popularity contest. If we wanted to be popular we would open our borders, submit all of our decisions to Brussels or the UN and bomb Israel. Opinions are easy when they come with no responsibilities. That is why teenagers are the smartest people in the world.


>>>Tracy,
>>>
>>>As the same question in any EU country and I'm sure you'll get a similar impression. It is not that we hate americans... We hate your administration...
>>>
>>>Most EU citizens are very critical about US foreign politics.
>>>
>>>Walter,
>>>'
>>
>>And that is, of course, your right.
>>
>>You do understand, however, that the goal of US foreign policy is to advance the interests of the US and not to please EU citizens, any more than the goal of Dutch foreign policy should be to poll well in Iowa. While I think it is unfortunate when everyone doesn't see the world the way we do ( or more importantly , the way I do <g>), I think it is understandable and as long as we are truly acting in our own best interests ( and that is not to say I think current administration policy is in our own best interests ) then we have done exactly what any nation must do in answering to its own citizens.
>>
>>The idea that what we are doing is unpopular with another country's citizens (who are also being manipulated by politicians with their own agendas ) is just not a compelling argument. If we are doing the right thing, it is the right thing and if it is the wrong thing it is the wrong thing. Popularity contests aren't really the issue.
>
>Hi Charles,
>
>What current administration is doing is ultimately the wrong thing
>to do. If you don't believe me, ask families of those killed in Iraq, Iraq families who lost family memeber(s), homes and of course those few millions of Iraq refugees scattered arround middle east.
>
>So whose interests exactly are being (agressively) pursued this way?
>What IS the isue?
>
>Turkey is just one of those countries being directly affected by this Texas style middle east rodeo/rig (Prospect of New Kurdistan,taming Iran etc), so it is only natural for US popularity to drop there significantly.
>
>It is not like You care about it, but as you said it yourself;
>Popularity is not high up US administration agenda, so who is to expect or to be surprised by unpleasent lack of it out there.
>Aid / No Aid, Beacon / No Beacon, very few things hold the water outside US when it comes to US foreign policies.
>And just as you hv bluntly put it for us here, it simply became way to obvious and c-trough, even when not as bluntly presented but folded into HiLevel political language.
>At least with Beacon.D wrapper we had something to guess, read between the lines etc. Now it is all out so is no longer 'fun' ...
>
>I sincerely wish/hope that waste majority of US people which are
>against all this, will manage to convert this feelings of deep desatisfaction and dissapointment into resounding NO to this kind of policies at upcoming presidential ellections, and we all see some better days and brighter future together :)
>
>Peace :)