The Current Discussion: CIA Director Michael Hayden says al-Qaeda is more or less defeated in Iraq and Afghanistan. Should the Bush administration take credit? How much?

I do not think al-Qaeda is defeated in any way. Their battle has been more than successful: nowadays the whole world is in a mental state of fear. This is what they wanted. The fact that the biggest, best and most modern army in the entire world was only able to kill a couple of al-Qaeda leaders and destroy a few of their hidden places is not an achievement anyone should be proud of. This seems to be a fight between David and Goliath. I know the American military and a part of the public opinion wouldn’t hesitate to think that al-Qaeda is the gigantic monster and the U.S. troops represent David, the Jewish king. Personally, I am not sure.

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The Current Discussion:Is there a growing global agenda -- that is, an agenda of issues being discussed that affects the world rather than individual countries? Or are local concerns still paramount?

I have a grown-up daughter who has lived in London for two years. She is now nearing the age of Jesus Christ in the year the crucifixion. Almost thirty years ago I told her after dinner at the kitchen table, “Anna, dear, either you get some ice cream, or you can have a piece of chocolate.” She thought for a while, then asked, “Can’t I have both?”

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The Current Discussion:After Ireland voted down EU reforms last week, we're left wondering: Is the EU unraveling?

The EU is not unraveling – it’s still growing and getting stronger. (Just look at the value of the Euro.) There are quite a number of nations lining up for membership. The results of the referendum in Ireland only show that people in a small country like to pull on the mustache of the lion. I hope they’ll solve the problem through negotiations, and soon.

Remember that the birth of the United States was actually one hell of a bloody war. I do not think that the problematic results of one referendum pose any serious obstacle to the life and history of the European Community. The general state of affairs in the United States is much more worrisome than that. Let’s focus on some more important problems.

The Current Discussion: The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan. Rather than sending more troops, is it time to negotiate a truce there?

Why have my answers been so short lately?

There is an old saying in Hungarian: Please, don’t ask any questions if you are really sure you have the right answer.

Do you have a similar saying in English? I think this question should have been asked a few years earlier. The truce (pun) is that negotiating a truce is the only valid way to solve serious problems in the chaotic global village. God only knows why any super power decides to send troops anywhere.

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