What I really think about the war

[Almighty Colin]

Powerful nations manipulate the world to their advantage.

The countries that have WMD's are trying to stop the proliferation of WMD's to countries that would likely use them against them.

Any country in the position of those countries would act similarly. Countries with WMD's that don't perceive the likelihood of those weapons being used against them are less concerned with proliferation. Countries that perceive that those weapons might be used against their "enemies" might even encourage it.

I would argue that every country tries to influence and shape it's environment to it's advantage. Many European countries act through the EU, Arabic countries meet at the Arab League, terrorist organizations terrorize, OPEC cuts off the oil supply, countries sell arms to other countries that will most shape the globe to their advantage. The US does it, Russia does it, China does it, France does it, Britain does it. What nation doesn't do it?

I would also argue that for the most part countries try to wield influence in the world in direct proportion to their ability to do so. America's policies stand out to many right now because of its unprecedented ability to bribe countries into favorable positions. She also has a powerful army that she is willing to use for political aims.

Anti-americanism is on the rise. It has been for decades. Attacks on the world trade center occured not just in 2001 but also in 1993. Embassy bombings have been too commonplace for
decades.

Many in the world criticize the US for it's obsession with violence, it's capital punishment laws, it's continual war on drugs, it's environmental wastefulness and it's particularly religious population. It is interesting that America has many of these things in common with Middle Eastern countries.

The view of the US in the Middle Easy is largely negative. This is a direct result of it's foreign policy especially as regards to the most unifying factor in the Middle East - policy towards Israel. US policy in the Middle-East is always viewed there through the lenses of Zionism and Colonialism.

Once such positions were balanced by Soviet power. Many countries in the world looked to the US as a balancing force to the USSR. Pick a side. No doubt, some of those same people are now looking for something to balance US power. The Soviet vacuum has greatly upset the balance of power in the world.

Some people want to adhere to a "doctrine of fairness". Why can the US have WMD's and not everyone?

Many Americans adhere to a different "doctrine of fairness". If you had them first, would you want anyone else to have them? Not me. Bomb Saddam.