I totally agree with this commentary.I have long felt the arrogance and lack of wisdom from our leaders and all that reside in the circles of politics are out of touch with reality.I love and respect my country,but I've lost all respect for those who pretend to lead us.Most of the stuff they do and say does not receive my approval and does not speak for me.It is the responsibility of each nation to put aside their petty egos and pride and do what is right for the world,their people and children.Mainly it is the responsibility of our leaders of the United States to stop using their power to muscle other nations into submission.Smart people are a dime a dozen,but find me a truly wise person and I will be bent on his every word.

betis mancipate sulafat flyspeck tutster nondefiance untradesmanlike facund
Arts Culture Entertainment partnerships and marketing
http://cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/10/19/ret.pakistan.witness/

Mr. Collins and other Iran bashers should read the following book written by a British scholar.

http://www.mazdapub.com/BookDetails.aspx?BookID=115

LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES AND TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE REAL CAUSE OF ALL THIS HAVOC IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE WHOLE WORLD.IT'S THE CREATION OF THE ILLEGAL STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE RUINS OF PALESTINE.THIS IS THE STEM CELL THAT HAS BEEN BREEDING ALL CHAOS AND TERROR WORLDWIDE.UNLESS THIS ISSUE IS HANDLED ADEQUATELY AND ALL PALESTINIAN REFUGEES RETURN HOME,WE WILL BE FOOLING OURSELVES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT INVISIBLE GHOSTS THAT WE CALL TERRORISTS

Can we all put together a donation fund and refill the prescription medicine needed for Frank Collins? It is as urgent as Education for desparate African countries......

While we are at it, let's take him to the vet for a few shots too!

Restore the republic! Consider Ron Paul for 2008

Watch the only honest, anti-war, anti-empire, pro-constitution candidate at work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hfa7vT02lA

We are a republic NOT an empire!

Vote Ron Paul 2008

Thanks but Bush is already doing a fine job of "grinding America into dust". He needs no help from Democrats.

His invasion of Iraq was the terrorist's fondest dream. Now they can say America is imperialist, killing Arabs, a paper tiger and a crusader enemy of God. Thanks to Bush, terror is up, violence is up, hatred is up, America's standing is down, our geopolitical position is deterioriating, and that's not counting shaky, nuke-rich Pakistan where Bush's favorite dictator looks like a goner. The empire IS over, Loyal Bushies, only you just haven't got the picture yet.

By the way, since when are "liberals" the target? Didn't William F. Buckley, the godfather of American rightwing conservatism, come out against the Iraq War two years ago? Didn't the conservative three-star General William Odom, Ronald Reagan's NSA chief, call for Bush's impeachment? All those conservative Republican senators deserting him like rats going down the hawser?

PUH-LEEZE, fella, bashing Bush for business or pleasure is now a strictly bipartisan sport all may enjoy regardless of political affiliation.

Don't worry liberals. Once the Democrats take the White House, they'll grind America into dust.

They'll let the terrorists take over and the empire will be over.

So rejoice, for that's what you want.

If more than 20% of world population is Muslim, this crazy poster above MUST learn to live with it. Alternatively, try throwing yourself from the rooftop of the nearest building....!

PostGlobal's handling of posters is very, very poor.

I agree: ban Frank Collins and Vote Ron Paul!

Dear PostGlobal Editors: Following up on a previous request, also PLEASE ban those posters who paste the same item on every discussion thread. They only disrupt every thread they get onto.

Dear PostGlobal Editors,

Given the atmosphere above, can you please enforce your blog rules and ban this hateful character FRANK COLLINS from this site. We are all trying to have a civilised, intellectual discussion and these resources are going to waste.

Thanks,
A concerned reader

Frank Collins must be one of two: He is either a hateful 12 years old, sitting in his boy-room with his own TV set fixed on FOX NEWS,
getting beaten by his mum for lunch and his dad for dinner, or is he a 40 years old propagandist sitting in an office, being paid for bringing out the sh!t to sabotage any discussion that can give Americans any idea. I don’t think any normal person with a normal functioning brain can just say nuke the half of the planet he himself sitting on. Either way he needs help! Frank! You need help! Turn off the TV, turn off the PC and just call 911! Read one of your own postings and they will be with you in a moment!

Well, Dr.Ettefagh is right when he says america is in a predicament ,But actually he just misses the point when he didn't mention the cold war era.
Personaly, I think the cold war era imbalanced the U.S.A as a superpower in a huge way.It had an Economic , Cultural ,Military,Political and ,,, impact on american society as a whole.
United states of america utulised its basic advantages in one of the most dangerous war to conquer the U.S.S.R empire , but during this preiod of time it behaved undemocratically which put her in par with evil empires of the history.
Actually america won the cold war because it won the hearts and minds battle ,In the war against terror it will be a loser if he thinks he can win it buy the miliatry means solely.
America needs a new agenda it needs true and radical change of policies , but actaully with the current poeple in charge i am not optimist at all.

Kam-Korder :

Doctor Ettefagh will not, I assure you, under any circumstances, compromise his class, identity and what he stands for, by allowing himself to be in the same room as Mr. Collins or any other human being who is full of hate and lies about another one let alone to offer him the courtesy of an autograph,.

Kam-Korder :

Doctor Ettefagh will not, I assure you, under any circumstances, compromise his class, identity and what he stands for, by allowing himself to be in the same room as Mr. Collins or any other human being who is full of hate and lies about another one let alone to offer him the courtesy of an autograph,.

To Poster Sam:
Dude,
You posted the same message 7 times! Once should be enough.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

War on terror is like war on ghosts that we can neither see nor feel around. How can anybody win a war against such an enemy who can appear only when he decides to strike,who can be near you all the time without knowing it,who can be with you in the street,on the train,on the bus,on the flight,even near your house,school or garden.Let's be honest about it. This is not a conventional war that we used to know.Even with the most powerful neuclear weapons,we simply cannot win such a war.However,this doesn't mean that we have to give up or surrender to the enemy.We can simply eradicate all terrorists and terrorism by eliminating the major cause behind it.The illegal creation of Israel on the ruins of Palestine is the stem cell that has been breeding all chaos and trerror in the Middle East and in the whole world.Palestinians,being moslems or christians,were kicked out of their country to be replaced by jews from Europe,Ethiopia,Russia,Poland etc.
Unless the Palestinian issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and unless all Palestinian refugees return home under UN resolutions, we will continue to fight ghosts for many years to come.

Evil may be in disguise often, however, not on these blogs. Islamic Terrorists are naked here. God is love. God speaks in messages of love. Peace be with you.

Thank you Dr. Ettefagh for an insightful analysis, as usual. May I invite you to come to the USA for a lecture tour? We need someone like you to kick our butts every now and then and wake us up to the realities of this "great" country. I'm sure Mr. Frank Collins will be there to ask for your autograph.

Fred Bos,

Ron Paul’s campaign slogan is “Hope for America”. And I do have hope for America. Most anyone who hears Ron Paul’s message becomes greatly inspired and wants to take action to pass on his message to anyone who will listen.

I believe we can overcome in a similar way that Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and our Founding Fathers who faced tough odds and succeeded in bringing positive change to the world.

LET'S NOT FOOL OURSELVES AND TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE REAL CAUSE OF ALL THIS HAVOC IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND IN THE WHOLE WORLD.IT'S THE CREATION OF THE ILLEGAL STATE OF ISRAEL ON THE RUINS OF PALESTINE.THIS IS THE STEM CELL THAT HAS BEEM BREEDING ALL CHAOS AND TERROR WORLDWIDE.UNLESS THIS ISSUE IS HANDLED ADEQUATELY AND ALL PALESTINIAN REFUGEES RETURN HOME,WE WILL BE FOOLING OURSELVES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT INVISIBLE GHOSTS THAT WE CALL TERRORISTS.

To impeach Bush and Cheney means nothing if you don’t change Americas foreign policy. US needs her own foreign policy with her own interests in focus not the policies designed in a 3rd part country and pushed over by neoconservatives to Americans.

Can we not get back to debate on the article, and leave presidential candidates to their own gig?

This writer is stating a very important point that America is isolated but big enough to be dangerous when it fails. We should not wait until 2009, but demand for changes today.....

Impeach Bush and Cheney.

Silence Dogood:

No disagreements there at all.
However, do you honestly believe a man who represents what America is all about has any chance whatsoever to win the presidency while you have let the Zionists to hijack your government and implement their own domestic policies but specially the American foreign policies ?

"America has isolated itself into a corner. It is more reliant on its military might without realizing the fact that the challenges are now different than when it first rose to power. It has not been able to locate a violent terrorist living in Afghan caves and has been unable to incorporate foreign assistance and humanitarian aid into programs for victims of Katrina in New Orleans. These are telling signs in an historical context."

Well said Doctor Ettefagh.

interestingly enough, a significant number of Americans, of course with the exception of this idiot (ANONYMOUS) above, have learned from the Vietnam that regardless of the volume of guns and tanks a military might, if void of a just cause, will be useless. The Vietnam and current fiasco in Iraq can be an attestation to this. Notably, It is imperative to distinguish the Vietnam from Iraq. The latter was launched by non-Americans but being fought by the Americans.

Restore the Republic – Vote Ron Paul!

Ron Paul is prophetic.

Ron Paul is the classic Philosopher King as described in Plato’s Republic.

Ron Paul is the intelligent thoughtful Claudius after the insane evil Caligula and Tiberius.

Ron Paul is the principled Thomas Jefferson repealing and eliminating the abusive and unconstitutional Sedition Acts.

Ron Paul is the insightful Dwight D. Eisenhower who warned of the Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex.

Ron Paul is the man of integrity and courage that America needs at this time.

We are making history - Vote Ron Paul!

70% of Americans want us out of Iraq and want change.

Ron Paul is only republican candidate against the war.

Ron Paul only needs about 30% vote from republicans sick of the war and abuse of powers to win in republican primaries.

Ron Paul might possibly win. We can only hope…

california condor:,

Ron Paul believes in the “Constitution” which is incredibly rare in American government these days.

Ron Paul never voted for the Iraq War
He voted against the Patriot Act
He has never voted to raise taxes
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget
He hasn't voted to raise congressional pay
He hasn't voted to increase the power of the executive branch
He voted against regulating the Internet
He doesn't participate in the lucrative congressional pension program

Please visit YouTube and search “Ron Paul” to learn more…

Ron Paul? Just where does he stand with God? Is he the messenger of God's will, like Bush? Does he talk regularly with God like Pat Robertson? Does he believe, as does Rumsfeld's Pentagon Mideast intel boss General William Boykin, that the enemy we face "Satan" and "Our God is bigger than their god?" Does he believe, with the Christian Dominionists, that godly folk must seize the U.S. military apparatus and spread God's holiness in the world by force of arms? Does he believe Armageddon is imminent and believers will be snatched up in the Rapture leaving the rest of the world to burn in Hell forever? Does he believe that the world is a biblical 6,000 years old and evolution is bunk? If not, Ron Paul has no chance in the Republican primary. He's not right with God. We all better just get behind Dennis Kucinich, the candidate of the common people and a saner world. He's bound to run stronger than Ron Paul.

we'll see about that....perhaps you should become the 701st Hillary volunteer on meetup...or start the 30th group for her.

We have 440 groups in 350+ cities with 18,000+(and growing every day) vols for Ron Paul....

I had enough fun with you. Hillary or Barack will be our next President. So you die hard Paul fans can read'em and weep.

The parallel with Rome about arrogance is almost right, but misses a relevant point. The arrogance that is truly dangerous is the belief in dominance in defiance of facts on the ground.

The values of liberty and prosperity within societies and sovereignty and collective self-defense between nations have evolved over centuries of difficult trial-and-error throughout history. Washington, Jefferson, Wilson, Truman, and others have defined these principles over the years. America is a civilization founded on ideals, and it weakens itself when it forgets its principles. The paradigm of "dominance" itself is a grievous threat to real national security.

No venom here, but you seem to be calling a veteran congressman a loser....

One that voted against the war it Iraq

One that voted against the totalitarian "patriot" act

One that never voted to raise taxes or for an unblanced budget.

If this is your idea of a loser...then so be it.

PS - Ron Paul now has more in the bank than McCain and just dominated the first straw poll in NH...

Go figure!

GoTime08: I'm an independent so your neo con tactic doesn't apply to me. You noticed that I didn't push or recommend a single democrat or republican. it's interesting that all your venom is pushing your candidate. Is that the only way you Ron Paul supporters think you can get your loser elected. Hum...will see in a few months if his name is on the ballot for either party in Nov 08. I can guarantee it will not.

Anonymous...

could this poster be neo con scared of the true American people and the rights/liberties outlined in the constitution...?

Ron Paul 2008!

Take the country back!

Hey Ron Paul supporters: I did watch him in the two debates...and he was a disaster. So stop your pushing a congressman that will never be President. You organizers are pathetic to keep push your loser.
Instead you should be objecting to the article vs using this space to promote who...who cares!

Wrong there, anonynous...

Check out meetup.com and the presidential grass root organizers:

Ron Paul: 18,500 volunteers

Obama: 3,000
Hiliary: 700
Mccain:0
Rudy: 0
McRomney: 0

30 million from corporations and foreign lobbies cant by you 18,000 people on the pavement every week.

This is the revolution!

Who is Ron Paul.....?

..... google him and watch a video or two of his speeches.

Time to take the country back to its principled roots!

Drastic Measure: Ron Paul...he wont ever be elected President other than Texicans who know no better. You must be one of his organizers or and Islamist supporter. Which one are you?

America needs someone like Ron Paul, a man of principles and unwavering conservative standards. Someone who says no to things rather than "when do we start invading," these attitudes adversely effect the people of America. He is a man who returns money to the federal government at the end of the fiscal year. Who can boast so much?

The transnational elitists do not care if America lasts as long as their name, power and influence continue. Those that have homes and assets in numerous other countries have no effectual care for these shores other than for their ability to produce large financial gains off it--the people who willing send sons and daughters into harm's way. America knows when to enter the fight, it doesn't need paper tiger wars to make it great. It's history is one of coming to the aid of those who need help in the face of tyranny.

Americans are saving your failed lack of spine in Iraq. Your a bigot, racist and hypocritical in your article, which is why we should have just nuked your country vs losing 3500 Americans. What other country fought in two world wars, saved Kosovo, and hundreds of other countries. Your cowardist editorial is why Americans don't trust middle easterners. When we leave you would wish we were back as the bloodshed that will come is a result of stupid simple minded men like you.

America is not in as bad a shape as it was after Vietnam. We'll get over this.

Two possibilities:

1. Non state actor like bin Laden acquired nuclear material enough to build few nuclear weapons or are helped by real enemies of the US to be able to buy ready to launch WMDs massively on US soils. This certainly lead to chaos and massive downfall of economic activities.

2. Slow disintegration of consumers societies because of lack of foreign credit and economic crisis like 30-33 periods. This is more likely to be a short period of less than 10 years.

Despite all shortfalls of the USA recently, it's unlikely that Americans will fail to reverse the course of this administration. The question is mostly of the size and ability of American enemy: a reclusive non-state actor.

Thus it's all remain to be seen.

Opinionnation: Agreed.

For those disbelievers, concerned, skeptical or vindictive, there'll be a new US president in 2009.

While I support this president and it's policy in Iraq, sans implementation, the next president will usher in a new administration with fresh new ideas/ methods/ perspective/ etc. The US will renew itself again. That's one reason why America has been and will be fine.

America will be fine

In an ideal world, Iraqis should embrace the democracy that is brought to them by the most powerful nation on Earth. But in the world we living, it's been proven that no nation-entity accept a foreign form of government. The irony is that the USA is only a paper tiger like any other paper tiger in the past. Bombs and tanks can't change attitudes of people to the better, only education, sympathy, respect can do that.

Consider the amount of troops on the ground, including the mercenaries army of 120,000 the level of foreign troops on Iraqis soil is comparable to the level of troops in the Vietnam war at its peek which was 550,000 over a population of 50 million, one for every 1000. The terrain of Iraq is even more difficult because practically that's a country on desert, big population centers connected by few long roads that are easily IEDed or EFPed in any point. If the Israelis can't win Lebanon Hezbulla and was forced to withdrawn, how American troops with less motivation, less trained in the terrain, and only be there for 2-3 year in one rotation can fight the Iraqis which is a warlike nation trained from 1979 till now by numerous wars with Iran and USA.

The likely outcome of American new role as envision by the neocons won't be a new Rome but a new fail-state economically, diplomatically and militaryly.

Probably a failure of such magnitude will resemble USSR downfall, and with a mixture of ethnicities that aren't melted spot yet, with guns freely available, one would envision a much bloodier demise.

The Fall they say is more or less going to happen! The speed and the self-destruction is a bit of a surprise. The primary seed for this destruction is the growing disparity of wealth and the growing disconnect between the people of the nation and those who are selected by the wealthy to be its leaders. These same folks want to contribute less and less while having more and more control! They seem not to see that they will not be able to control these destructive forces; already we are almost completely alienated from the government; the people are fragmented into groups based on the worse characteristics (Race, Class, and especially Religion); the growing failure and isolation of American in the world; the gross economic failures overhang the nation like a massive avalanche poised to explode. These forces are largely Fascist in nature and allied with the fundamental Christians which is largely a massive Con operation; these groups are natural partners as they share a common believe about the nature of people: simple, ignorant, gullible, desperate for leaders to tell them what to do and believe! Historically we are following the prescribed path: Republic, Democracy, Totalitarian; and then Anarchy. Everything is happening faster, so maybe we will have all 4 at the same time! Dick is clearly the Fascist element with George the Machiavellian Prince trying to be der emperor while their collective antipathy with the low regard for all elements of our government are leading to wide-spread rebellion and anarchy; Bring’em On!

Shakeel: The world has never been peaceful, unfortunately. It has been in war since the beginnig of time, and for more combined years in the Middle East prior to the 18th century than the number of years the US has been in existence. Peace be with you.

1. I agree with Dr. Ettefagh about the US military programs but not about the US cooperation with more than 110 countries. I read that not as 'cooperation' but soft & hard 'coercion'.
2. Comparing what Rome did or did not & the nascent 200 year old America's contributions is a shame to scholarship.
3. The impact of an American failure or fall would have a much greater impact on the world, says Dr. Ettefagh, I SAY AMEN ... a very good one impact it will be. The world will be peaceful!

"America has isolated itself into a corner. It is more reliant on its military might without realizing the fact that the challenges are now different than when it first rose to power. It has not been able to locate a violent terrorist living in Afghan caves and has been unable to incorporate foreign assistance and humanitarian aid into programs for victims of Katrina in New Orleans. These are telling signs in an historical context.

Therefore, it is time for a new debate on how America can crawl out of its albeit self-inflicted isolation."

Dear Mr Ali Ettefagh,

The challenge for an empire-like power has always been to pacify new territory and assimilate new people into the same framework. The Iraq war in that sense is no more different than the Vietnam war or the USSR conquest of Afghanistan.

Americans Empire builders - the neocons simply failed to comprehend the reality of the world: it's not Americans' world and never will be. In today world, you can't use force to subdue people any more. Most people know what they themselves and their nation are entitled to: independence.

The neocons over estimate American power and underestimate Arabs' power. Although at one point in time they may appears to be much more stronger, but it's a dynamic world and 4 years is long enough to show that in real contest of will on the ground, the American troops and their general are no better than insurgents armed with EFPs and RPGs.

Thanks to Dr. Ettefagh for the thoughtful post. I agree that our isolation is self-inflicted and dangerous. Fortunately, there are lots of people in the U.S. that want to break out of it. Note how close our last two elections were and how few now support our current policies. However, no matter the outcome of the next election, getting out of our current predicament will take courage and work. We need the international community to develop a consensus around reasonable solutions and demand that the U.S. live up to its responsibilities as world citizens.

There are many parallels between the decline of Rome and ours. The Romans came to grief in Mesopotamia. So have we. Like Romans before us, we are told we have the greatest Army in the history of the world. Actually, what we have is a clumsy, poorly informed, overweaponed force that is entirely mismatched to the mission in Iraq. It is overstretched and exhausted and cracking, confounded by small bunches of insurgents and criminals with light weapons and some explosives and a burning hatred so fierce that no atrocity is beyond them. Our military is led by careerist generals who spin the disaster shamelessly and whose allegiance seems mostly to their own advancement, not to the troops and not to the Constitution and not to good military sense. This Army can't even protect its own ranks and outposts, let alone establish order and security for the populace, who mostly just hate us, naturally, as their alien occupiers. The
more Iraqi civilians killed and maimed by this largely Christian army we've stranded in a hostile Muslim land, the more hate we accrue, and the more danger of terrorist blowback we incur. Our own generals tell Bush there is no military solution. Now, 80 percent of Iraqis want us gone, and 50 percent want us dead, polling tell us. Our flak-jacketed diplomats scarcely dare venture out of their mess halls and apartments in the Green Zone let alone into Baghdad's streets. Our monstrous new embassy is a ghastly monument to ruinous fiscal and strategic folly. We've been in Iraq four years and things get worse and worse day by bloody day. What are we getting for our $9 billion a month? Death and horror and more danger to the national interest? How many more lives will we flush down the rat hole of neocon
delusions and media servility and the jingoism of the Loyal Bushies? IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST LEST HE BOMB IRAN AND MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE.

yes salvation comes from within

Dear Americans:

Vote RON PAUL!

Really! Listen to that guy! He sounds like the only one that can save United States of America (most of all from herself)!

Just listen to him. He is all-over the net. I did and he just changed my mined totally!

No more Obama, no more Clinton for me! RON PAUL is the future! He is conservative yes! But he is intelligent! Powerful because of his ideas! (Simply the constitution)

He dares to challenge the warmongers head to head!

I hope Americans fined him and listen to him!

H

A big part of America's problem has been "redefining our values". In so doing we have replaced stability with insanity. By removing the stones of memorial, there is no foundation for those things that defined us. Political power is wrangled through the art of the deal, and a solid constitution is not conducive to weak kneed compromises that diminish the values and value of the nation, because such unconstitutional deals increase the power of the politicians and escort some into the class of the ruling elite. On paper, our constitution gives everyone the power to persue the kind of lives they want to live, so long as they do not overstep the stones of memorial, and it is the "respect" contained in our founding documents that is being negated.

Re: The impact of an American failure or fall would have a much greater impact on the world.

So I guess the alternative is to let Americans kill and maim in the name of good v evil and live with it.

As they say "get used to it!"

How reprehensible can that be?