I am quite aware of America's questionable history in its dealings with other nations. You see, kind sir, I felt that those sentiments had been amply brought to light by others on the list. The laundry list of American sins has been aired quite thoroughly on the clothes line. My intention was to offer the flip side of the Polo towel, in which America's government has to deal with the world as it currently exists. It saddens me that you neglected to deal with any of the content of my post, choosing instead to lean on cliched dysphemisms. The question is not whether Arabs have justification in their anger against the U.S. Any educated person knows that America has sown many seeds of hate and distrust in the world. The real question, the one I am attempting to address squarely, is what should America now do? I refuse to accept the notion that goes something like: America is a big nasty bully, therefore America should take a totally laissaiz faire approach to the world and let the chips fall where they may. This view is totally unrealistic. I repeat: With great power comes great responsibility. What should be the role of the world's only superpower? Let's discuss that. And to you, sir, to whom I apologize because I don't know your name, why don't you tackle the list of questions at the beginning of the jingoistic blither that so offended your refined sensibilities. I'd be most interested in your responses. > >It's really something to read this jingoistic blither on a list devoted to >Pound. Like most Americans, Mr. Lukas thinks that September 11 sprung from >the head of Osama bin Laden fully blown, with no history to predate it. >Arabs hate America because they're a bunch of religious fanatics who >slobber >at the thought of killing infidels, wherever they may be found. No mention >in Mr. Lukas' nationalistic reading of events to include American and >Western >meddling in the Middle-East, the propping up of harsh, repressive regimes, >the heavy tilt toward Israel as a client state, the continued destruction >of >Iraqi children with the fanatic embargo -- none of this makes even the >slightest dent in the ahistorical construct of Mr. Lukas. It's >astonishing. >but Mr. Lukas makes one nostalgic for En Lin Wei -- whoever he was/is. No >sir, all Mr. Lukas can do is throw up his hands and whine --"What is >America >to do?" _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail