Brad i agree with much of what you say
Reader comment on item: Europeans: From Venus?
in response to reader comment: American opinion

Submitted by sonsam (United States), Sep 13, 2006 at 22:27

Brad i'm not sure where this profound manifistation of fear that exists in America comes from. It could be that so few Americans know anything about whats going on in the rest of the world and thus rely on second hand Information..... which is often presented in a self-serving fashion. After watching republican election ads about terrorists etc. It was quite evident where some of our fear is derived. I suppose a country that is void of fear also has very little use for government outside of token diplomacy and minimal domestic coordination. For anyone who wants to no more about fear in America the film "Bowling for Columbine" is quite interesting.

I'm a moderate liberal who is anti-Bush, not anti-republican. Bush has made so many mistakes in his foreign policy and on the "war on terrorism" it infuriates me that more people are not wise to this. His administration has spewed nothing but half-truths, misinformation, and blatant lies. I guess Clinton lying about his sexual escapades holds more condemnation than lies that have killed thousands of Americans. I suppose if Clinton had paid 400 billion for oral sex I might of been more upset....go figure.

The real motivation of the Bush administration was and is an attempt to democratise the Middle-east. I don't think many Americans would of supported the war in Iraq had they known this. Of course the Bush administration grossly underestimated the somber complexities of the middle-east and so such is our current situation. The "axis of evil" was another huge mistake. By doing this he empowered an Iranian regime change (radical), he put the North Koreans on edge and heightened their further want and aquirement of nukes, Iran as well.

I hate to say it but the way things are going in Iraq we just might of been better off with Saddam in power. Let me explain..... Saddam of course was a ruthless dictator and a nightmare for the majority of Iraqis. For this fact alone i wasn't sad to see him go. But the realization is that America doesn't have in the least.... a viable roadmap that will alleviate iraqi suffering, and which in fact has the potential of turning that region into a real trouble spot for the U.S.....yes more so than now. Saddam was a secular dictator, he had no need for religious fantascism as this would only bring him the ire of the world and create added problems for him. Saddam after the Gulf War was firmly under the thumb of the United States and the rest of the world. Any saber rattling by Saddam was not so much a threat, but was rather the act of a desperate man to show strength despite his apparent weekness to his people. Now that Saddam is gone Iran is in a good position to consolidate Shittes and to bridge Persians and Arabs. Yikes

I do give accolades to Republicans for their success in Afghanistan in ousting the Taliban and installing a fairly viable government. As well as acquiring a coalition to do so. I think though that we let OBL slip through our fingers. Going to war in Afghanistan was pretty much a no brainer though...Europeans knew we were going to do it and the rest of America wanted it. I am upset that Europeans refuse to commit more troops to that country. I think Afghanistan has a chance, but its in a fragile state with the Taliban hiding in waiting. The Germans currently have 5,000 troops in Afghanistan but don't wan't to commit more......what a joke.

The rest of Europe outside of the British are even worse. If Americans don't like Europe at times this is why. Americans die for European security and our taxes go for the same.....sixty-yrs. of this. Not to mention many of the "problems" in the world stem from European legacy. Of course if we have a few more Bush's the pendulum may shift to us. Please Europe ask yourselves one question. What have you done for America? Then ask yourselves what has America done for you.......and then you wonder why we don't care what you think. It's easy to be a backseat driver. Than again you don't even want to go for a ride anymore.....must be enjoying your holiday time. I wish i had some of that, then maybe i might have some free time to travel the world and learn something about it. Of course the only time Americans get to travel is when they're wearing a helmet and carrying an M16. God Bless in the most agnostic sense.

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