In response to DGW109 who wrote:

"I am just curious why being called a communist, socialist, marxist, leftist, etc., is considered 'name-calling.'"

Maybe it's because, like you, I'm a libertarian, and not a communist and that, for the past 90 years or so, any critics of the USA that irked leaders or anyone else in the USA have been labeled "Marxist/Communist/Socialist" without regard to the political ideology of said critic. This is just another example of this kind of name-calling (it's considered name-calling because that's what it is) that has been going on for so many decades.

Similarly, mentioning historical facts that irk the leaders or anyone else in the USA results in the person mentioning those facts being labeled a socialist/communist/marxist, even (as is the case in 99% of circumstances in the US) that person is an American democrat/republican/libertarian/anarchist or otherwise something other than a communist.

There really aren't that many communists or Marxists in the US, but if you read message boards, at least 95% of the populace must be, because "Marxist/Communist/Socialist" is a lame ad hominem attack used non-stop in place of logical argument.

I agree that "difference of opinions make the country better as a whole" but when someone I disagree with is using a label as an ad hominem attack on me to discount what I say, I am not going to "embrace" that label.

Have you noticed that AO used the word Marxist to label me in the very first sentence of his first response to me? Have you noticed that he took a break from "help[ing] me" to devote his two wordiest paragraphs to characterising me as a communist? He's going to a whole lot of trouble to prove this libertarian is a communist who's words can be discounted (all in order to help me). His use of the word "help" is ironically similar to the brainwashing of chinese communists who "help" those who stop believing in communism.

American Observer wrote:

"Now, I will be the first to say that Charles Tripp never says 'America did not bring Saddam to power.'"

While, much of what AO wrote is unworthy of response, I'll point out (or remind those already savvy) that the favored method of deceit in the American corporate media (and the American government, as well) is lying by omission. I don't think Mr. Tripp's book is an exhausting history of EVERYTHING THAT EVER HAPPENED IN IRAQ. Since "The word 'America' never appears, anywhere," it certainly can not be exhaustive...

Anyway, AO, since Mr. Tripp doesn't say anything about the US role in Saddam's earlier days, why don't you try another source instead? Perhaps then you will "acknowledge the US involvement in his coming to power or the support the US gave him throughout the years when he was being so ruthless." This sourse, Mr. Critchfield, was the head of CIA in the middle-east in those days...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saddam/interviews/critchfield.html

Alas, the reason I read the comments of this section was to respond to Mr. Akbar, but I was diverted by the silly argument in the comments section over whether or not the "doctrine of overwhelming military force" has been dealt the death blow, which of course it has not, and further whether the USA was/is hard/brutal enough to win wars when an actual war occurs (as in 1945, when we "forced" the Japanese to accept our terms, as opposed to 90/91, when Saddam, realising he'd been conned, fled and surrendered to our terms), which of course it is.

AO correctly states, "Actually, 'Overwhelming Military Force' has always worked just fine, and it will continue to work for generations or even centuries to come, for those who are hard enough to use it." But he incorrectly concluded, "Are Americans hard enough to do that? No, and we never will be." I presented "a litany of Marxist accusations" (which happen to be facts, but AO dislikes those facts and wants to ignore those facts since they don't support his conclusion, thus he labels me as Marxist/Communist in order to discount the facts) to show that the USA is indeed hard enough, in support of Amvienna, who accurately stated, "we are just as HARD (not my term) as anyone else," and Darden Cavalcade, who's comments are without flaw.

So now I can finally respond to Mr. Akbar, which is what I should have done from the start, rather than attempting to argue with someone who resolutely defies accepting facts (however, I did not know that then, but should have).

Mr. Akbar,

I'd like to say you've written a very good article. It begins with the obvious, that the USA's adversaries are probably enjoying seeing the USA flounder, and probably wish to see this continue. Although it is obvious, it can not be pointed out enough in a press that teaches the public a doctrine wherein a true American must be apathetic about America's international relations (we mustn't worry about what others say or think about US actions), but also must become vitriolic against anyone who speaks out against US actions (how dare they!?)

Oddly, you did not mention other American adversaries like Iran or North Korea or Venezuela or the others we omenously threaten on a daily basis, who must be very relieved that we are being kept occupied (no pun intended) in this Iraqi black hole.

You are also to be commended for managing to question the veracity of the newest tape, albeit in a semi-inferential manner.

Mr. Rahul,
Pl. go ahead, you might have gathered the information of the Reward in dollars of the head of Bin Laden. It is not in thousands but in millions.
Try your luck with Mr. American Observer who seems to me running after Bin Laden for the last six years and now lost his spirit of tolerance. He is now desperate, irrational and emotional while writing about Bin Laden.
On the other hand Mr. Rahul, I would like to give you a fact of events when I was a student in MP(Narsinghpur) before partition. Youth wing of Mahasabha used to arrange pegions and hens to slaughter before the boys to train them to kill the Muslims of the area. My very good freind, Prakash, Jain by faith, was deadly against it. As you know, all these viciousness is not the part of Hiduism or its culture. Therefore, do not mixup the legacies of king ships, political jingoism and feudalism with religion.
Lastly, if you like to dance over the tunes of CNN and BBC and you think what the Europeans are propagating are correct then please dance over it. But beware, sometimes historical forces sqeeze up the "future" very fast.

Mr. Rahul,
Pl. go ahead, you might have gathered the information of the Reward in dollars of the head of Bin Laden. It is not in thousands but in millions.
Try your luck with Mr. American Observer who seems to me running after Bin Laden for the last six years and now lost his spirit of tolerance. He is now desperate, irrational and emotional while writing about Bin Laden.
On the other hand Mr. Rahul, I would like to give you a fact of events when I was a student in MP(Narsinghpur) before partition. Youth wing of Mahasabha used to arrange pegions and hens to slaughter before the boys to train them to kill the Muslims of the area. My very good freind, Prakash, Jain by faith, was deadly against it. As you know, all these viciousness is not the part of Hiduism or its culture. Therefore, do not mixup the legacies of king ships, political jingoism and feudalism with religion.
Lastly, if you like to dance over the tunes of CNN and BBC and you think what the Europeans are propagating are correct then please dance over it. But beware, sometimes historical forces sqeeze up the "future" very fast.

Here is big question for all of you is that what is basis of faith of muslim that they are ready to blow themselves which we dodnot see in any other faith.Either they surreneder or they change their course.why?.please a answer.

Here is big question for all of you is that what is basis of faith of muslim that they are ready to blow themselves which we dodnot see in any other faith.Either they surreneder or they change their course.why?.please a answer.

The Rev. Walter Fauntroy gave a speech on the anniversary of 9/11 and he said that the three great men of our era are Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. They changed their countries!!!! Non-violence is SUPERIOR to war because when you win a war the victory may last a few weeks or years, and then the defeated group will start another war. When non-violence is used you WIN the PEACE.
I want the lives of these three men taught in every junior high school in the world, and every high school and university, and to all religions, their leaders and members. Do help me. MBFurth@aol.com

The Rev. Walter Fauntroy gave a speech on the anniversary of 9/11 and he said that the three great men of our era are Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. They changed their countries!!!! Non-violence is SUPERIOR to war because when you win a war the victory may last a few weeks or years, and then the defeated group will start another war. When non-violence is used you WIN the PEACE.
I want the lives of these three men taught in every junior high school in the world, and every high school and university, and to all religions, their leaders and members. Do help me. MBFurth@aol.com

Latest News (NYT-9/17)about peace and compassion of Islam:

A $100,000 reward for killing of a Swedish cartoonist for "insulting" Islam. Extra $50,000 if the cartoonist is slaughtered like a lamb (i.e, a slow cutting of throat).

Also $50,000 for killing of the editor who published the cartoons.

What a peaceful and compassionate culture, these Muslims!! And they say they are being misunderstood!!!

BBC Today- Women in Saudi Arabia to request Saudi rulers to let them drive cars (this is the birth place of Islam (Bibles are confiscated at the airport- forget about idol worshipping)).

CNN- A middle school girl said she has to hide her text books from her father because he would not let her study.

To "Rebel'
To go for better " Bread and Butter" is human nature. It dose not relate to any religion. What you would say about the Europeans who settled in Australia and America after wiping out the entire original inhabitants.
* To call a land an 'Islamic' is not Islamic. This trend started after1492, particularly when colonisation started in the ME and elsewhere.
* Stoning and canning is not Islamic. It is one of the Sematic traditions that existed for centuries before Islam. In ancient Egypt it existed. You can find it even in Indian and other nation's history.
* What the Muslim youths do in Europe and elsewhere that I don't know.Therefore no comments. But what I learn through newspapers, youths of Europe and America are more inclined to all such activities rather than the Arabs and Muslims.
* You mentioned Racism. The only religion that revolutionised the mankind against Racism is Islam.You can find scores of verses in this regard in the Quran.
* Sexism. Mr.Rebel, As you have mentioned about the harsh punishments in Islam, you will surprise that those punishments are only linked with Sexism. Yes, in all Semitic nations and religions, sexism is the most punitic act, that is why the "Harshest" punishment is there. It helps to build a nice society.
* Tribalism ..... a lame excuse. You know better than I about the tribal system of India. What you will say about caste system. Many Indian historians like Tara Chand and others have pointed some merits in it. Caste system is not bad as general public think. Similarly, Tribalism some times provides strength to the community to fight the enemy.

I absolutely agree with Rahul . I am a secular and atheist Indian settled in Europe and i am convinced that Muslims are at the root of this problem . Consider their hypocrysy.
1 They do not hesitate one second to migrate to Europe and America or even India and open their mosques , halal shops but a christian or Hindu or even an atheist cannot practise his religion freely in their countries.
2) A man is allowed legally to have 4 wives and most muslims in europe have innumerable girlfriends , visit prostitutes but a muslim woman who has an affair or even a boyfriend is stoned to death.
3) Their so called Allah asks them to stone women , cut off hands of prisoners , impose tax on non muslims but is still a god.
I have interacted a lot with Arabs and its their character that is reflected in their religion Islam : Racism , Sexism , Tribalism all authorized by so called Allah

. . . We are kidding ourselves if we think Iraq will be alined with America; because they are destined to become an ally with Iran, and there's nothing we can do about it.

. . . No one wants to truly talk about this most obvious fact; it's like they're afraid if mentioned, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

. . . And although it's a reach, it's not an overwhelming reach to ask: . . Is the Iraqi government keeping America in the field as a favor to Iran??

Let the real Mohamed Malleck stand up.

The FIRST Mohamed Malleck, above. I quote:

"'The one and only reproach I myself have to make to Osama is that, because of him, we have to bear these travel discomforts of having to remove our shoes and belts etc.'

Bravo, Dilip."

Unquote.

The SECOND Mohamed Malleck, above. I quote:

"But, to repeat what I have said in so many other places -I don't condone what was done by Osama Bin Ladena & his misguided followers on 9-11
I don't condone it not do 99.98% of Muslims. "

Unquote.

American Observer replies:

I am sorry for speaking clear and simple truth, but those two passages do not fit together. In one passage, you praise a pig who supports terrorism for saying "The one and only reproach I myself have to make to Osama is that, because of him, we have to bear these travel discomforts of having to remove our shoes and belts etc..." and in the second you deny praising pigs who support terrorism.

You cannot have it both ways. Mohamed Malleck, I think you are playing a double game. I think you want to create respect for pigs who support terrorism, while at the same time you want to be considered blameless by people who oppose terrorism. Since you have no supporters at all, your game does not seem to be working, but since you seem to be autistic or nearly so, you don't seem to notice that you are failing.

Well said.

This administration — re-elected because many voters bought its bravado and bluster after 9/11 and believed it would show that scary world who's boss — has done more to destroy this country's global standing and undermine its power than have all the terrorists who have made that their goal.

Mohamed Malleck says:

"Next, about history of Arabs and of Iraq, quoted in an earlier post of yours which I did not bother to read but referred to briefly only just now. No, I have not read 'A History Of Iraq,' by Charles Tripp. But I have read ALL the books by Dilip Hiro, by Bernard Lewis, a few of the books by Flora Lewis, at least two books by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto (especially his superb opus MILLENIUM).

And then, of course, I am steeped in Arabic and Islamic culture."

American Observer replies:

Ha Ha Ha. If you are so 'steeped' in learning, Mohamed, why were you so stupid as to say that America brought Saddam to power? If you have any brains at all, then go to your books and find any scrap of a quotation, no matter how small, which substantiates your accusation. I promise you, everyone on this board wants to see you try.

Mohamed- I can tell by your language and knowledge that you are a true Muslim. Did you miss recent NY Police Commissioner's statement that he believes that terror plots are hatched wherever Muslims gather including Mosques, taxi stands....?

Sami Qureshi-If Muslims have the Allah's right to settle anywhere then why have they declared more than 50 nations as exclusively Islamic? Don't rest of humanity have equal rights to settle anywhere? And why are there no significant minorities in all those Islamic countries?

Re:OBL. More than 50% Pakis support OBL.

Re; the author MJ Akbar: in his hometown Muslims are blowing up innocent civilians on a regular basis. He should be more concerned about that.

AMERICAN OBSERVER,

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry. I used the term ignoramus to qualify only Rahul and omitted you. Of course, you also are an ignoramus. Don't feel offended.

You qualify me as " brainless scum who respect Osama Bin-Laden"? Suit yourself. Maybe you should try to find a more extreme insult next time you post. But, to repeat what I have said in so many other places -I don't condone what was done by Osama Bin Ladena & his misguided followers on 9-11
I don't condone it not do 99.98% of Muslims. Even Gaddafi has qualified that act as a 'crime against humanity' although there are quite a few non-Muslim (among whom even Robert Fisk, sadly according to me because otherwise the man is superb) and Muslims as well, who believe in a conspiaracy theory. I don't justify and have never justified 9-11, but I can EXPLAIN it, almost as well as Robert Fisk, Dilip Hero and others do.

Next, about history of Arabs and of Iraq, quoted in an earlier post of yours which I did not bother to read but referred to briefly only just now. No, I have not read 'A History Of Iraq,' by Charles Tripp. But I have read ALL the books by Dilip Hiro, by Bernard Lewis, a few of the books by Flora Lewis, at least two books by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto (especially his superb opus MILLENIUM).

And then, of course, I am steeped in Arabic and Islamic culture.

Everyone now accepts it as common knowledge, if we pull out of Iraq there will be chaos. In reality things would improve dramatically if we leave. The Iraqis hate our occupation of their country and so do the surrounding Muslim nations.

The people who are telling us this lie are the same people who drilled it into our heads that the Iraqis will greet us as liberators when we free them from a dictatorship, that they had weapons of mass desruction and they were involved in 9/11.

This lie is being perpetrated to insure that bush can hand this mess over to the next president.

The president, congress, and the generals have forgotten who runs this country or at least who used to, the people.
We have lost our democracy because the last time I checked in a democracy the majority rules. Fully seventy percent of the American people want this war to end NOW.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress
dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister, Third Reich

IT'S A TRAP!!

Everyone now accepts it as common knowledge, if we pull out of Iraq there will be chaos. In reality things would improve dramatically if we leave. The Iraqis hate our occupation of their country and so do the surrounding Muslim nations.
The people who are telling us this lie are the same people who drilled it into our heads that the Iraqis will greet us as liberators when we free them from a dictatorship, that they had weapons of mass desruction and they were involved in 9/11.
This lie is being perpetrated to insure that bush can hand this mess over to the next president.
The president, congress, and the generals have forgotten who runs this country or at least who used to, the people.
We have lost our democracy because the last time I checked, in a democracy, the majority rules. Fully seventy percent of the American people want this war to end NOW.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress
dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister, Third Reich

Mohamed MALLECK says:

"RAHUL,

We know that you are a total ignoramus, and because of that could not make a decent living in your own country and have come to the US to do semi-skilled jobs."

American Observer replies:

The world is full of workers, Mohamed -- skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled, and at all skill levels in-between. Whether we need nuclear physicists or ditch-diggers, we can get plenty in every skill set without having to accept the kind of brainless scum who respect Osama Bin-Laden. It seems to be that you are no position to call Rahul an ignoramous or anything else, Mohamed, and I am quite sure that Canada would be a better place without you. If Canada does need a worker in your skill-set, there are a million Asians who can take your place, and they will not be the kind of idiots who find excuses for terrorists.

Mohamed MALLECK says:

"RAHUL,

We know that you are a total ignoramus, and because of that could not make a decent living in your own country and have come to the US to do semi-skilled jobs."

American Observer replies:

The world is full of workers, Mohamed -- skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled, and at all skill levels in-between. Whether we need nuclear physicists or ditch-diggers, we can get plenty in every skill set without having to accept the kind of brainless scum who respect Osama Bin-Laden. It seems to be that you are no position to call Rahul an ignoramous or anything else, Mohamed, and I am quite sure that Canada would be a better place without you. If Canada does need a worker in your skill-set, there are a million Asians who can take your place, and they will not be the kind of idiots who find excuses for terrorists.

To add more to the comments of Mohamed Mallek, Rahul's religion forbids (its followers) to make journey across the oceans.They don't hesitate to defy their own religion for a few dollors. But Muslims never object of their coming to America or UK because this world belongs to ALLAH and according to the Islamic tradition, Muslim/Mankind has the right to settle in any corner of the world. Migration (Hijrah) is a part of Muslim's life. America is not the property of the white-European settlers, but belongs to every one. It is evident from the Indian history that the whole cultural aspects now percieved in India are modulated by the thoughts penetrated through northern passes. That is why travelling across the sea, is no more a sin to the Indians.

Dear Immigration Consuls,

1. Let your country delcare that it is not a secular country but a christian or a jewish or a hindu country.

2. Let your country not bring in foreign workers, investments, cooks, sportsmen, musicians, chinese directors, australian actors, cheap indian labor.

I can guarantee none around will be a hypocrat.

For 4 generations the Bush family has been in the military hardware business. For at least 2 generations, they have strongly diversified into the oil business. Deployment of American troops into an on-going Middle East conflict is profitable for both family ventures.

I think after 9/11 things are not the same.
Bush is always the same never changes doesn't want to change. Osama Bin-Ladin hates change, doesn't want people to be there own religion. He wants everyone to be islamic. he cant find america thats good we don't want an invasion. But when Bush thinks that he is trying to protect U.S he is acully making it worse. he makes everything worse. What if we have a World war III ? which we wont We probably wont get to it oe wont get to have one, well who ever we have for president will be a beter president then bush and know how to acully run a country. because we can finaly get rid of Bush.

it seeme to me that osama tapes apear onely when things like the report on iraq take place

it seeme to me that osama tapes apear onely when things like the report on iraq take place

it seeme to me that osama tapes apear onely when things like the report on iraq take place

RAHUL,

We know that you are a total ignoramus, and because of that could not make a decent living in your own country and have come to the US to do semi-skilled jobs.

Most of us (how do you call us? "moderate Muslims" -- Muslims are the most tolerant, productive people on earth, you idiot, so the adjective 'moderate' does not have to be added to qualify us -- but stupid and hateful, we are not) belong to the group that Alan Greenspan qualify as highly-skilled immigrants who are helpin to revie an Americn economy that badly needs our skills.

Here is what Alan has to say in his book "Times of Turbulence', reviewed elsewhere in WAPO, where the fact that he castigates Bush for the Iraq war which was 'mostly' about oil theft, in his words. " He [Alan Greenspan] maintains that immigration reform, "by opening up the United States to the world's very large and growing pool of skilled workers," will help reduce the inequality of incomes.

I don't have time to quote a more revealing passage, check it out for yourself.

Or, one other observation -- you will note that I always sign my full name and address and I am not in the US. So, rest assured.

I'm no fan of Bush, and I think he's a bad President, but here's why USA is still better than any of your "alternatives."

In Bush's America, Jon Stewart mocks Bush (and everybody else) and gets paid millions to do so.

The Jon Stewarts of Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, and much of the Muslim world get murdered by the state or shadowy agents thereof.

And a powerful USA, along with Allies that understand the importance of freedom and the need for force to stop and deter those who hate freedom, is still the world's best, and possibly only, hope.

If you'd rather get your knackers cut off for speaking your mind by a guy who shares your ethnicity, rather than have your freedom protected by those who don't share your ethnicity, then keep hating the USA.

How is it that M. J. Akbar, a respected editor, so misuses "begs the question" for "raises (invites, suggests, prompts, leads to, brings up) the question," as in "...begs the question: How is it that each time Osama wants to find America, he can always do so?"?

To beg a question is to make an error in logic--a type of circular argument where, in forming a conclusion, the very thing in quesion is assumed as true. By careless extension, the phrase is sometimes used to mean to evade or avoid a question. But even that carelessness doesn't extend to to raise a question.

The US is suffering a crisis of religious and national identity within the minds of the Anglo right wing ruling class. Just as the British wanted India, but not the Indians, so the US wants the world without its non-Anglo inhabitants. It's sad, but that is how it appears in the great Mid West.

I would like "Moderate" Muslims to worry more about what their religion has done to humanity. More than 50 Islamic nations. If Muslims respect all, why they need to call their countries Islamic?

If they do not like USA, leave it alone and stop migrating here and move out to peace loving Islamic nations.

An exellent analysis mr akbar.when god tries to destroy a nation He not only creats enemies but also impose a bad leader on a nation whose policies led the path of destruction.when America will come out from Iraq and afghanistan swamp the world will be completly changed with multi regional power blocks where america will be a distant power without power to influence.America would be in more trouble if shia led goverment would not come to help his so called arch enemy.
Let see what the world going to be in next ten years.

I always enjoy his articles for appropriate approach to the subject. This article is also a compact one that indicates salient features of the adversaries USA has to face in coming years. But one point is missing. What will be the impact of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal? Can it be the supporting pillar to the declining short-lived American Civilisation ( of Huntington) or it may be recorded another deciding factor in the short-fall of Indian history. Will India go to rescue USA or USA To rescue India? It is a "BIG-QUESTION".

Lonewolf says:

"bin laden has outthought and eluded george bush for six long years only because there is plenty that bin laden knows that the bush administration wishes to keep deeply buried. what is that knowledge? what does the bush white house know and fear that bin laden might be able to say to the world...?"

American Observer replies:

I have been racking my brain for the secret, Lonewolf, but I am stumped. What is the secret? Do Katherine Harris and Osama Bin Laden have a love child, and is that love child Bill O'Reilly?

On a serious note, 'Lonewolf,' I thought I had seen everything this board could possibly throw our way, and now to my surprise it has managed to get even crazier. For once, I am speechless.

good king george has never really thought his wat through the conundrum that is iraq. i'm certain that his father as well as colin powell gave him fair warning as to the pandora's box he was about to open and yet he still doesn't get it. this is because he is an arrogant and stubborn man who still somehow believes that a miracle will occur. has his god told him that this is about to happen? i would prefer that his non-secular attitude aligned against a very secular iraq might be the stumbling block. like the child who refuses to "clean up his room", it will be someone else who will be forced to perform that task and in the end this will be his legacy. bin laden has outthought and eluded george bush for six long years only because there is plenty that bin laden knows that the bush administration wishes to keep deeply buried. what is that knowledge? what does the bush white house know and fear that bin laden might be able to say to the world and just where do the saudi's fit into the complexities of the terror network other than anbar province and the rest of the sunni community? we may never know because one get's the feeling that the demise of bin laden will most likely be as mysterious as his present existence, but you can bet he is far away from the long reach of american special forces layered beneath the pakistani isi network. try kashmir. anyway, the iraqi situaton will only continue to deteriorate as the u.s. spends itself into oblivion providing the perfect nesting ground for the extremists of sunni distnction even to the point of arming them so that they can later turn those same arms upon u.s. troops. and al-qaeda will never be stopped as long as the u.s. remains in iraq. it is time for a new battle ground. perhaps a return to afghanistan to finish the job we previously abandoned for the most part to fight al-qaeda on more favorable terms. where we go, they are sure to follow. this should be our new strategy.

Talk of being prisoners of one's own devices, and Americans are leaders even here in the field of world view. I remember a story if famous duo of King and his Prime Minister - the King was Akbar and his PM was Birbal. One day Birbal wanted to teach a lesson to the Emperor for some miscarriage of justice. So he was found searching frantically for something under the light of a lamp. When Emperor Akbar asked him what he was searching, and whether he could help, Birbal replied that he had lost a gold ring near the lake. "So then why are you searching for it hear? Go near the lake." Said Akbar. Birbal replied that the lake shore was very dark, whereas there was light under this lamp post, so it was convenient to search for the ring here.

At a time when the whole world knew that Osama Bin Laden's base was in Afghanistan and he got resourcs from Pakistan, USA went and attacked Iraq. Simply because Iraq was a sitting duck, waiting to be attacked. And Saddam was itching to be overthrown. Has the golden ring been found? You bet not.

Is it any wonder the world thinks of America as stupid, laughable - and dangerous!

America chooses not to listen to what it doesn't want to hear. War is sold to us, yet not to those where it is fought. Al-Jazeera is banned from cable TV so we watch cheerleaders. Know your enemies, people.

This echoes a recent op-ed piece by Thomas (finally seeing the light) Friedman who wrote that "China has spent the last six years training for the Olympics while we’ve spent ourselves into debt on iPods and Al Qaeda."

This is very much something that seems to have eluded the Keep America Safe -- Fight Them Over There So We Don't Have to Fight Them Here disingenuous (at best) rhetoriticians.

One can be pro-peace, pro-strength, pro-security, pro-diplomacy, care about the safety, well-being, equipping of our troops and be against THIS illegal unjust war. Meanwhile the war against the Taliban/Al Qaeda in Afghanistan -- where Osama Bin Laden is and from where he launched the attacks of 9/11 -- is not going well.

To use an oft-quoted sports metaphor: "Bush took his eyes off the ball" -- and he had plenty of help and enabling in that regard. But it is his reponsibility, he should be held accountable. The republican party should be held accountable for distracting the entire country back in 98-99 when Clinton was dealing with the petty moralistic gnats of a greedy petty power-corrupt party led by Gingrich, Starr, De Lay, et al. -- The CIA could have gotten Bin Laden were it not for the hypocritical republican clusterf@ck.

And, Bush obviously never ever heard of "Speak (or walk) softly and carry a big stick" -- his overcompensation for his small insecure ... over-inflated ego and pea-size brain is self-evident.

But what a bunch of lemmings at least half of the american voters are. Simplistic, simple-minded, superficial. Pathetic. Emotionally, morally, intellectually, spiritually stunted in their development - just like their president and their ruling party of greed.

Sorry, but I don't have much confidence in their ability to grow up and learn 'wisdom' after folly. Most of them are too stupid and too afraid to use their underdeveloped brains and hearts. They prefer being told what to do and what to think by their religion and their political masters who continue to rob them blind.

Well done. We all know Bush has been in over his head from the beginning and now the consequences are materializing just like you explained.

For the first time since I started voting in 1969 - I must say that whoever is elected will be much much better than our current President. I pray our Country can stay together until we can get a new man in office in 2009.

Yes - I said man. I will not vote for Hillary.

It's interesting what people mean when they say "America." Adversaries will take advantage of certain American leadership's focus, but America is a country of 300 million people. If one travels the breath of the world, in Central America, Europe, Asia, South Asia, one finds many "Americans" who are "distracted" by their own purpose and life. Simply put, how does one "defeat" a nation of 300 million (and ifwith a vibrance of cultures, languages and styles? There is no victory, no defeat, no loss or wins. There is life. And life, mostly, is great... We'll let the rest of the world worry about "distractions" and "losing" while we eat, dance and watch our football on cool fall weekends.

YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE BUTTON..GEORGE BUSH AND HIS GANG HAVE SET THE USA BACK IN WORLD AFFIARES AT A VERY MINIMUM 25 YEARS..HE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY
FOR HAVING LET THE GENIE OUT OF THE BOTTLE

ANS AS A RESULT THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THR LAST 100 YEARS..GREAT ARTICLE

"Distracted" America isn't the half of it. "Ignorant" America would be more like. And our leaders are among the most ignorant. Many of us ordinary citizens knew from the get-go that the war was a huge mistake -- unnecessary, self-centered, counter-productive, and economically and morally ruinous. We said so at the time, along with millions the world over, but to no avail. The leaders had trapped themselves in a dream of conquest. Now, too late, they are waking up -- still ignorant, however. Which means, knowing only how to react, they will probably react again. And since the ordinary American Joe is also ignorant (due to mindless consumerism, nationalistic media, and poor public education), it is hard to be hopeful. Wonderful things happen now and then, however, so here's hoping. Impeachment would probably help as a first step.

"Distracted" America isn't the half of it. "Ignorant" America would be more like. And our leaders are among the most ignorant. Many of us ordinary citizens knew from the get-go that the war was a huge mistake -- unnecessary, self-centered, counter-productive, and economically and morally ruinous. We said so at the time, along with millions the world over, but to no avail. The leaders had trapped themselves in a dream of conquest. Now, too late, they are waking up -- still ignorant, however. Which means, knowing only how to react, they will probably react again. And since the ordinary American Joe is also ignorant (due to mindless consumerism, nationalistic media, and poor public education), it is hard to be hopeful. Wonderful things happen now and then, however, so here's hoping. Impeachment would probably help as a first step.

President, Pentagon and Demos in Congress are as clueless about Iraq war as they were about Vietnam. This time around the difference is that the aftermaths of this lost war will have grave consequences for peace loving people in the world. I am terrified for the future of my children. The only win would be if Americans as fallout of this war manage to get rid of Money and Media Mafia, which controls every aspect of American life from elections to how they should think. Anyone not following their line is branded a traitor.

Sarbo says:

"Bush was not wise. No doubt wiser presidents will succeed him."

American Observer replies:

I agree. Sarbo, your entire message was intelligent, insightful, and well-composed. Thanks for sharing it.

Like Mr Akbar, I am from India and quite familiar with his worldview, which I find to be always reasonably argued, though hardly widely held. If America is growing weaker I,like most of my countrymen, do not see any persuasive signs of it. (Foreignors should discount heavily the rhetoric of some of our political parties; we Indians recognise this as 'vote-bank politics', wooing the Muslim bloc vote, and is more indicative of their own weakness).

Even educated Muslims like Mr Akbar fall into the common error of extrapolating forward and backward from the Bush Admin's disastrous policies. People seem to think that Americans are incapable of learning from these mistakes or correcting course to return to their historical leadership.

Military might (and patronage) helps but if anyone thinks brawn can substitute brain has just the one and not the other. In the one area which has differentiated the modern world from the medieval, science and technology, the west is still the pioneer. If any Indian wants to do Basic Research in Science, he goes to USA and not China.

If America is losing power I don't see anybody else making a bold bid to fill any vacuum. What America is vulnerable to is the portable WMD. And all nations, including Mr Akbar's India, are equally vulnerable to this threat. Wise nations gather their resources to confront common threats. Bush was not wise. No doubt wiser presidents will succeed him.

I think America's inability to "play the natural leadership role of a sole superpower, while competing powers including rising China, resurrecting Russia and semi-deferential, semi-ambitious regions like the European Community are expanding their global influence" is actually a good thing, if it means that:

- the Military Might that in the end once saved Mankind from Nazism and then Communism will be there as always, just in case, not to be unduly strained.

- It will be harder for another "March of Folly" (sensu B. Tuchman), this time Iraq, to happen again. Vietnam was not enough.

- the world will start taking responsibility for getting their own economic, financial and social acts together, each country according to its desires and capabilities.

- The U.S. will concentrate on fixing their own fiscal problems, the immigration issue and border control(yeah, shamefully,with many of my fellow countrymen abusing visa stays), and please, New Orlean's levees back in order forever.

ERNST, AMERICAN, ERIC,

Read RMANUTO's comment and my response and pray, pray, man, pray for America.

It's a good, good country for good men like Howard Zinn, like Senator Ray Mc Govern, like Chris Hedges, like Scott Ritter, like nearly 290 million others, that is probably over 95% of its population.

Yes, in the case of Muslims, they are good people for about 88.98% of them.

Why the difference between the proportion of good people for Americans and Muslims? The same as it is for men: power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutley. America has been the world hegemon for too long. Overall, most of the time, it has used the position for good; quite often, it has abused it and wreaked havoc, making others suffer. It happens to all nations that wiekd absolute power as it happens to people who wield absolute power. Then the decline comes.As the historian Kennedy a couple of decades or so ago, and as Peter Turchin have explained it recently, empires alos have life cycles. Read, man, read, don't die being an idiot and accusing others of hating America.

Mr. Akbar;

I often wondered why you never wrote any thing critisizing Osama Bin Laden or his terrorist gang. You always fing words to criticize Bush and America. Is it because Islam forbids you to critic your fellow Muslims?

Why would you want to find Osama?
It will only reduce the number of reasons, or perhaps THE reason for going to war.

Looks like American Observer rip you guys a new a@@

Hopefully it is the end of this brutal imperial monster. America is finished.