more up-to-date and more accurately reflects how some countries see America and many of its actions around the world today.

We surely all know by now that US is the world's *only* superpower and when people in the US start implying or directly criticising a smaller weaker country of being beligerent (when we all plainly know US could swat them in short order) one has to question who is the aggressor.

This applies to the now demonised Saddam Hussien of Iraq as much as to the RED baiting remarks in the original post, about China.

I am one who is generally grateful that US won the cold war. US are my countries friends, but, that doesn't mean I have to like what I see as bullying or barefacedly beligerent acts against smaller weaker countries as a means of keeping them under control.

I posted this item elsewhere but will repeat it here -

"Late 1940s - after WWII British power begins to wane and America steps in. George Kennan, U.S. State Department stated in 1948," The US has about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. In this situation we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and daydreaming, and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford the luxury of altruism and world benefaction. We should cease to talk about such vague and unreal objectives as human rights, the raising of living standards and democratization. The day is not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better.""


This above quote clearly and accurately outlines why Bush's administration is behaving as it is internationally.

Here is an interesting and seemily very fair perspective on some US actions in light of the reality that it *is* the world's only super power.

[link|http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-01zzq.html|China fears post cold war superpower USA]

Question I would ask is are their fears unjustified or very easy to understand. To truly answer this one needs the ability to wear the other persons shoes.

Cheers

Doug Marker