Of course Bush needs to be impeached and removed from office as a result however, the president of Iran has threatened to wipe the entire country of Israel off of the map. And that obviously is violence towards woman and children! And what has Israel ever done to him or his country? In fact right now as we speak there is produce in Iran that has grown in Israel stamps over each vegetable. I grew up in a household that taught me never to bite the hand that feeds me. Think about it.

Superb!

Thanks to the Post for posting such a nuanced and thoughtful argument.

Oh wait a second, this is just the 100th silly anti-American diatribe posted in a row.

Why is the Post so unwillign to post a pro-America or at least a neutral writer. All we get is silly Daily Kos style rhetoric like this.

That being said, I do admire this "journalist's" abilty to get so many cliches and ignoirant steroetypes into such a short work. Thank goodness that liberals are so tolerant and seeking to engange in constructive debate.

sometimes you see cowboys bow oaks, from right to left, SYOBWOC.

have you ever seen?

Mr. Ignatius:

Why do you only choose to post articles that take a one-sided and anti-American view?

Would it have been impossible to find just one writer with a view sympathetic to America? Instead we get five stridently anti-American diatribes.

Why is the left so afraid of a two-sided debate?

Mike, this piece is not anti-American. It's anti-Bush. In case you're confused, the two are not one and the same.

Good thing the Americans saw the evil in Mao and Stalin and spent billions fighting the cold war . Good thing we spent billions with worthy allies fighting Hitler and the Axis.And the Brazilians ? they did nothing but hide behind the Americans . Now what do you get ? ungrateful Brazilians with short memories. I think we should have let the Russians take Brazil , and we should have taken Poland. You can see how grateful the former Eastern European countries are, they know freedom and the value of Liberty. Unlike certain writers who never fought for there freedoms nor helped anyone else do so. If you saw evil Miriam, what would you do ?, if yr countries history suggests anything, it would be to do nothing.

HELLO EARTH TO MIRIAM--IS THERE ANYBODY HOME?

There seem to be 2 important points you've seem to conviently forgotten about:

1)HELLO, Bush is a UNITER not a DIVIDER
2)If Bush says the leader of Iran is evil you should trust his judgement. He's already shown his flawless judgement in character when he looked into Putin's heart and soul and saw a good and sincere man. APOLOGIZE

Alex writes: "... the Brazilians ? they did nothing but hide behind the Americans . Now what do you get ? ungrateful Brazilians with short memories."

For the record, so that long memories persist:

"There have been many experiments in economic development in the modern era, with regularities that are hard to ignore. One is that the designers tend to do quite well, though the subjects of the experiment often take a beating....

... Brazil, for example. In the highly praised history of the Americanization of Brazil that I mentioned, Gerald Haines writes that from 1945 the United States used Brazil as a "testing area for modern scientific methods of industrial development based solidly on capitalism." The experiment was carried out with "the best of intentions." Foreign investors benefited, but planners "sincerely believed" that the people of Brazil would benefit as well. I need not describe how they benefited as Brazil became "the Latin American darling of the international business community" under military rule, in the words of the business press, while the World Bank reported that two-thirds of the population did not have enough food for normal physical activity.

Writing in 1989, Haines describes "America's Brazilian policies" as "enormously successful," "a real American success story." 1989 was the "golden year" in the eyes of the business world, with profits tripling over 1988, while industrial wages, already among the lowest in the world, declined another 20 percent; the UN Report on Human Development ranked Brazil next to Albania. When the disaster began to hit the wealthy as well, the "modern scientific methods of development based solidly on capitalism" (Haines) suddenly became proofs of the evils of statism and socialism-another quick transition that takes place when needed.

To appreciate the achievement, one must remember that Brazil has long been recognized to be one of the richest countries of the world, with enormous advantages, including half a century of dominance and tutelage by the United States with benign intent, which once again just happens to serve the profit of the few while leaving the majority of people in misery."

Source: Noam Chomsky, "Neoliberalism and the Global Order", in Profit Over People.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Chomsky/NeoliberalismPOP_Chom.html

It seems to me that George Bush enjoys/requires/exploits/depends on a symbiotic relationship (a relationship between two people in which each person is dependent upon and receives reinforcement, whether beneficial or detrimental, from the other) with "evil", i.e., Saddam, bin Ladin, N Korea, Iran and others. As one fades in importance, another must be found. But clearly both sides of these relationships depend on the other to continue power, recruitment, and media attention.

I'm surprised myself by the obvious slant of not just anti-Bush but absolutely anti-American rhetoric in some of these posts. At the start, I disagreed with U.S. involvement in Iraq because it seemed to me that it was doomed to failure and was a massive waste of money and effort. Nothing that has happened since the start of the conflict has unfortunately convinced me that I was wrong. Iran and Ahmadinejad are another story, however. No, I doubt that not even Bush would bite off too much militarily now after bogging the military down in Iraq but the fact that he strongly reacts to an obviously dangerous and I suspect somewhat ignorant leader of a country ruled by a histerical and hypocritical religious elite should not "shock" friends of peace or freedom. I will be glad when Bush retires for sure and I hope to see major modifications in U.S. Foreign Policy but I can't help believing that cowtowing to a man like Ahmadinejad who advocates erasing Israel off of the map, states that the holocaust didn't exist and sponsors a seminar of crackpots from around the world to promote absurd rewrites of history, supports massive killing of Iraqiis by supplying intelligence and arms to Shia militias, appears on video claiming devine inspiration in his speeches before world leaders but then denies the video as some sort of "fake" photographic trick, and regularly arms Hezbollah via Syria to increase Iranian power in the region. And to top it all off this great man of peace who has to endure the "strong" words of an American President wants nuclear weapons at any price for his country. I should fear Bush and let this guy say or do whatever he chooses? Dis Bush if you want but at least have the common sense to recognize an enemy of peace. That's my thoughts.

HOW TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Brazil - O Globo and radio CBN Brazil about cowboy Duba and his attitude about the rest of the world trying to live their lives and not his style forced onto them. I am at peace with any person in the world except him and Cheney forcing their me only and terrorizing the US - America's and the world.

This is a very over simplified and narrowly personal assessment, something one can hardly classify as analysis. Furthermore, it is insulting to American people who are educated, do think, render and change viewpoints and opinions as facts are revealed, and give greatly to others outside our society.

Ah, where to begin?
If right-wingers are tired of "anti-American" opinions, articles, or editorials, they should perhaps reconsider their habit of branding those who don't agree with them as "anti-American," regardless of where the opinions come from. They should also remember that the bush administration has pi**ed away all the goodwill that America enjoyed after 9-11, by the "for-us-or-against-us" attitude that was culminated by the rush to war with a country that had nothing to do with it.

Seems to me that bush is really the "anti-American." He has chipped away at our civil rights, denied due process to U.S. citizens, violated everything that this great country once stood for (secret prisons and overseas kidnappings, anyone?), wrapped himself in the Bible AND the flag while trying to force gun-point democracy on a culture with literally no history or demonstrated desire for democracy, has eliminated or slashed domestic programs while continually seeking "emergency" funds for an endless war, has alienated our allies by unilateral action and the dismissal of the importance of the U.N., and who is now repeating the "diplomacy first" charade of the pre-Iraq days while engaging in reckless and irresponsible rhetoric about Iran.

Not to mention the insidious merger of Church and State (see latest candidate for running Health and Human Services), gross incompetence (Katrina, Harriet Myers, Social Security), corruption (Jack Abramoff, 1000's of missing illegal RNC e-mails, political breifing on the taxpayer's dime), plain stubborn idiocy (SCHIP veto, amnesty for illegal immigrants), and hypocrisy (Pat Tillman/Jessica What-ever cover-ups and lies, his new-found "fiscal responsibility," tax cuts for his rich buddie during record deficits and war time).

bush claims that the islamist extremists "hate our freedom." Well, since bush has done more harm to our freedom than the extremists ever could have imagined in their most fevered dreams, that makes us the losers, the extremists the winners, and george bush an anti-American.

Bush has been a lame duck cowboy since 1-20-2001. He reminds the world of a drunken cowboy who gets on his horse and rides off in all different directions and never arriving at any of them. Bush has no positive accomplishments, period.

Michael Szedon:

I wish there were more Americans like you around. People who are not AFRAID to call a spade a spade. Thanks, mate. If you are looking for a new home, move North. We took in thousands of Americans during the Vietnam War. I met some nice ones at university here in Ottawa, lovely people!

Michael Szedon:

I wish there were more Americans like you around. People who are not AFRAID to call a spade a spade. Thanks, mate. If you are looking for a new home, move North. We took in thousands of Americans during the Vietnam War. I met some nice ones at university here in Ottawa, lovely people!

Hello! I would love to know why my post didn't post?

You list 18 comments but are showing only 8 (I think). Lots of missing ones including mine. WHAT GIVES?

Michael Szedon:

Good summary of the woes inflicted on America and the world by the Shrub (aka Bush aka Dubya) and Darth Cheney. Not that Ahmadinejad is any saint - anyone that denies the holocaust and declares that Israel will disappear from the map (a better version of what he said) cannot be trusted. It should be noted that his poll ratings seem to be on a level with the Shrub's. But if the Shrub orders in the bombers and cruise missiles, you can bet that Iran's civilian leader will be a national hero overnight.

It mystifies me how my country reelected that clueless numbnuts for a second term. Perhaps this quote gives a hint:

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

--Goering at the Nuremberg Trials

Míriam, há muito tempo o mundo já não é o mesmo. E os americanos sòmente agora e tardiamente, passaram a entender que a economia mundial, de direito e de fato, com a globalização, perdeu o medo e a dependencia do poderio americano. O Banco Mundial ( FMI - BIRD - BID )fiel escudeiro americano, já não manobra mais as economias emergentes. Governos corruptos da americana latina e central, recebiam a proteção americana para a concentração de riquesas, manutenção do nível de pobreza,das desigualdades sociais, do nível de escolaridade baixo.Todo esse emaranhado de abuso do poder do Estado, beneficiava direta ou indiretamente aos americanos. Mas os americanos do sul e do centro, deram o seu grito de alerta, elegendo líderes populistas, imaginando suprir as suas deficiencias e carencia, em tudo. Daí, o quadro economico, político e social das americas do sul e norte está mudando para melhor, com todos os erros que cometem. Os nossos primos ricos, os americanos do norte, estão sentindo o distanciamento de seus fiéis aliados e não será tão fácil, reconquista-los. O mundo não está precisando de GUERRA, MAS DE PAZ E ESSES 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES QUE ESTÃO SENDO GASTOS COM A GUERRA, PODERIAM ESTAR GERANDO MAIS EMPREGOS E RENDA, NOS PAÍSES POBRES E EM DESENVOLVIMENTO. OS AMERICANOS PRECISAM VISUALIZAR O NOVO MUNDO.O DÓLAR ESTÁ DESVALORIZANDO NÃO SÓ NO BRASIL, MAS EM TODAS AS COMUNIDADES ECONOMICAS MUNDIAIS. É UM SINAL DA FORÇA DO IMPÉRIO BUSH , QUE GASTA , REPITO, 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES EM UM PAÍS DE POUCO MAIS DE 30 MILHÕES DE HABITANTES.

Míriam, há muito tempo o mundo já não é o mesmo. E os americanos sòmente agora e tardiamente, passaram a entender que a economia mundial, de direito e de fato, com a globalização, perdeu o medo e a dependencia do poderio americano. O Banco Mundial ( FMI - BIRD - BID )fiel escudeiro americano, já não manobra mais as economias emergentes. Governos corruptos da americana latina e central, recebiam a proteção americana para a concentração de riquesas, manutenção do nível de pobreza,das desigualdades sociais, do nível de escolaridade baixo.Todo esse emaranhado de abuso do poder do Estado, beneficiava direta ou indiretamente aos americanos. Mas os americanos do sul e do centro, deram o seu grito de alerta, elegendo líderes populistas, imaginando suprir as suas deficiencias e carencia, em tudo. Daí, o quadro economico, político e social das americas do sul e norte está mudando para melhor, com todos os erros que cometem. Os nossos primos ricos, os americanos do norte, estão sentindo o distanciamento de seus fiéis aliados e não será tão fácil, reconquista-los. O mundo não está precisando de GUERRA, MAS DE PAZ E ESSES 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES QUE ESTÃO SENDO GASTOS COM A GUERRA, PODERIAM ESTAR GERANDO MAIS EMPREGOS E RENDA, NOS PAÍSES POBRES E EM DESENVOLVIMENTO. OS AMERICANOS PRECISAM VISUALIZAR O NOVO MUNDO.O DÓLAR ESTÁ DESVALORIZANDO NÃO SÓ NO BRASIL, MAS EM TODAS AS COMUNIDADES ECONOMICAS MUNDIAIS. É UM SINAL DA FORÇA DO IMPÉRIO BUSH , QUE GASTA , REPITO, 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES EM UM PAÍS DE POUCO MAIS DE 30 MILHÕES DE HABITANTES.

Míriam, há muito tempo o mundo já não é o mesmo. E os americanos sòmente agora e tardiamente, passaram a entender que a economia mundial, de direito e de fato, com a globalização, perdeu o medo e a dependencia do poderio americano. O Banco Mundial ( FMI - BIRD - BID )fiel escudeiro americano, já não manobra mais as economias emergentes. Governos corruptos da americana latina e central, recebiam a proteção americana para a concentração de riquesas, manutenção do nível de pobreza,das desigualdades sociais, do nível de escolaridade baixo.Todo esse emaranhado de abuso do poder do Estado, beneficiava direta ou indiretamente aos americanos. Mas os americanos do sul e do centro, deram o seu grito de alerta, elegendo líderes populistas, imaginando suprir as suas deficiencias e carencia, em tudo. Daí, o quadro economico, político e social das americas do sul e norte está mudando para melhor, com todos os erros que cometem. Os nossos primos ricos, os americanos do norte, estão sentindo o distanciamento de seus fiéis aliados e não será tão fácil, reconquista-los. O mundo não está precisando de GUERRA, MAS DE PAZ E ESSES 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES QUE ESTÃO SENDO GASTOS COM A GUERRA, PODERIAM ESTAR GERANDO MAIS EMPREGOS E RENDA, NOS PAÍSES POBRES E EM DESENVOLVIMENTO. OS AMERICANOS PRECISAM VISUALIZAR O NOVO MUNDO.O DÓLAR ESTÁ DESVALORIZANDO NÃO SÓ NO BRASIL, MAS EM TODAS AS COMUNIDADES ECONOMICAS MUNDIAIS. É UM SINAL DA FORÇA DO IMPÉRIO BUSH , QUE GASTA , REPITO, 700 BILHÕES DE DÓLARES EM UM PAÍS DE POUCO MAIS DE 30 MILHÕES DE HABITANTES.

Convervatives are slow to realize that reality has a liberal slant to it.Bush and Cheney warn of ficticious threats and scenarios that don't exist and by thier innate incompetency , manage to make them into reality.
It keeps Bush and Cheneys' Halliburton stock bullish and thier Right Wing ,Faux Christian, Mercenary buddies employed.
I guess every American should experience being ruled by an incompetent regime. Make them push to restore the squandered respectability and trust the U.S. once deservedly had. The things that made them undoubtedly A Leader of Nations.
Countries no longer care if they please or do as the U.S, would like them to. In fact now some do the opposite in protest of this administrations' foolish , childish, policies.

wonderfull analysis of Mr Bush.you are very right in analysing the policy of a war monger president.we all look for a change when American love for humanity will come againg after this egoistic president.
For american establishment there always an evil to whom they can target for showing American power to terrorise the weak countries,a better profit for armamnet industries and better investment opportunity in oil.
The world is fed up enough from the policy of this so called dying star of America political system.

Do you people still believe that idiot is running things? The man can't even read a speach without sounding like a moron. You need to step back a bit, look at the bigger picture, and ask yourselves who this fool works for, and who's running this country. It's not you and I. Here's a hint. Follow the profits.

Israel, to answer the first comment, assisted the Last Shah in setting up Savak his secret police. This guys oppressed the people with torture and murder and were the cause of the Islamic Revolution. The Zionist neocons are the one urging the Bush Gang to attack Iran. Bush needs foreign enemies because he a failure at Home. He double the federal debt, failed to react to the August Presidential Daily Briefing stating His former business partner's brother going to attack the US using Airliners.

The Enemies of Democracy
by Christopher Jon Batis

A great advantage yielded by the First Amendment to the citizens of our democracy is , not only the free expression of ideas and ideologies, but its ability to to allow for the discovery of the potentially self serving enemies of democracy by virtue of their indiscretion and pompous lack of humility and modesty. The hegemonic elitist is particularly prone to such discovery and threat; at the same time, there are others, of the same composure, that will decline to debate in the available forums.

Although the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and expression, unfortunately, there is no urgency in the Constitution which prompts critical, discriminate reading and listening. But, as it offers these freedoms to one, so it does to us all. Perhaps this is the reason this Amendment was the first to be inked. I suspect it was anticipated by the founding fathers that the suppression of the voices of the "ruled", or in the present case, the governed, by the antithets of democracy, would also attempt to suppress the very democracy these wise founders envisioned and sought to establish. They knew that, without it, the tenets of monarchical government would survive and continue without oversight of the informed. They also knew that human nature would clear a path for the unrestrained impulses of, even if a few, oppressors to tout their intent to suppress the mass, common beneficiaries of this new, bold, and free democratic society guised in false patriotism, integrity, and decency.

Glittering generalities, an apparently effective tool of these potential enemies of democracy, need to be dismantled and reconstructed by its readers and listeners according to the true engineering of their discourse. In order to do this, a certain level of education is required. However, while education is the tool of the citizen to discern candidates campaigning for election, affording our democracy a surviving chance, the United States of America ranks 7th of 13 western democracies in higher education accessibility, although it ranks indisputably 1st of the world's greatest institutions of scholarship according to the Educational Policy Institute in Washington D.C.. Draw your own conclusions.

2008 may prove to be the most historically profound election of the 21st century, for many reasons, most of which, as you may know, impact your lives directly. Ready yourselves aided by every source of information possible granted to you by the First Ammendment; newspapers, the evening news, C-Span, the Internet, and the like, along with more intellectual sources of information. Your local public library, for example, is a good start While doing so, however, read between the lines and listen between the sound bites. To a large extent, your vote depends on it. Participate actively in the history of preserving democracy. Study relative history. Freedom may be the costliest word this democracy will ever know, but it shall remain priceless for as long as, we the people, allow it. Do not complain, without voting, at the current state of affairs, only to look back with consternation after the election, while the issues of your lives continue without change and deepen the wounds of your citizenship. Please educate yourselves and vote accordingly.

Nothing new here. The same was done to Henry Kissinger. By a better writer at that.

Sir: The first time GWB won was an absolute theft. But, then after, 9/11 happened and GWB won reelection on the basis of fear. The GOP is in power because of the enimies they have created. What is sad is that there are sheep who drink the same Kool-Aid and the lemmings who blindly follow.

I hold my breath. I fear these 14 months will bring us another one of the Bush Wars. Another gamble. An even worse desaster.

Let's assume Bush will manage to launch "retaliation" against Iran, first on small scale, then - as Iran will strike back - on a larger scale ... and the whole thing will escalate to the point where Bush will order a nuclear bomb on Teheran! Millions of dead civilians ...

For the moment Europe still tries to appease Bush - giving him part of what he wants, i.e. playing along with his pressure on Iran. It won't help. Bush, as it seems, is poised to attack Iran, and then escalate the war to the point where he may think Iran's will to resist will be broken.

That is what I FEAR.
I don't have a magic crystal ball - I don't know whether things really will develop like this. But it looks likely, doesn't it?

Querida tia,

Parabens pelo artigo tao bem escrito!

Do seu sobrinho dos EUA,

Elias

Maria,

Suppose Argentina's leader said "Brazil should be wiped off the face of the Earth" "we look forward to a day where Brazil is destroyed". What if Argentinians held mass rallies chanting "death to Brazil". And then Argentina decided to increase its military spending and develop Nuclear "fuel" for peacful reasons. Brazil is alarmed and calls Argentina's leader "evil"(and of course will run to the Americans for help), but far far away in
a Israel" says"Brazilians are just making up stuff". I think you need to live like an Israeli to know what evil really is, or just read some history on the middle east. Brazil has never been militarily threatened or faced destruction, so I can see how you discount other peoples fears but you do so at a great cost to reality.