Charles,

>No, I'm not forgetting Madrid. If you mean terrorist are expanding their target range, you are probably right. We were feeling pretty safe over here in 1940. Britain felt pretty safe in 1938. Wars spread. To think that by reacting passively you can make the problem go away - or hide behind the Maginot line - is somewhat misguided.

Beeing passively is always bad. But reacting actively does not mean you have to invade and bomb down two whole countries. This actually is a very good way of raising anti american feelings arround the whole world.

>BTW, learning about America and how it works from Michael Moore is just as silly as learning about us from John Wayne movies.

Actually, I'm not. There is a lot of intellictual food over here that really provides objective thoughts about your president. Both negative and positive. The negative seems to have the major overhand however. I can't remember the exact percentages of the dutch people voting for bush here but it was in the order of 20% Bush - 60 kerry - 20 no choice.

Walter,