I think it's much simpler than Prager says. I think it's because the evil people know we stand between them and world domination.
For the other, non-evil people in the world, the resentment and cheering for our enemies is based on envy. People in general like to see the big man take some body blows occasionally. People like to cheer for the underdog and anyone/any country that confronts us is definitely an underdog. Most importantly, the people don't seem to care who's doing the damage to America -- they don't realize the implications of their tacit approval of the evil ones.
This applies to everything, not just countries. For example, almost daily there are threads on FR bashing Microsoft. Why? Mainly because they're a powerful company. Every mistake is blown up into a msft-bashing ceremony followed by requests for government intervention, lawsuits, etc... Is this behavior that much different from a bunch of Somalians dancing on a downed US helicopter?
And we should remember we were the underdogs once and we need to never forget how we became the big boy on the block and why the former big boys are now the little girls.
Excellent post and a very good interpretation.
Although hardly an excellent analogy, it is sort of why Formula 1 fans are happy when Michael Schumacher does not win a race.
Observers of history prefer balance when they are not actively shaping it.
As an American living abroad (in Europe), I can also say that Europeans, at least, do not hate Americans. They hate George Bush and they hate the type of Americans who are not willing to look at what European society has to offer in comparison to America before making an absolute judgement.
The über-coverage of Reagan we just had also reminded me that W's problem in Europe is partly a result of his inability to communicate in public and his allowance of his Defense Secretary to antagonize our allies rather than diplomatically trying to convince them.
The lack knowledge in how to deal with Europeans in the White House is astounding and depressing.
There is such a thing as a ugly American. I see them all the time. Their political affiliation is rarely an indication. BUt, I fear that many of the current cabinet in chagre of dealing with them might fall into that category
I also think it is often worth pointing out that "evil people" do not view themselves as such. That does not make them "good" but it is necessary to comprehend in order to deal with them. A great deal can be otherwise educated. The true "dead-enders" are few.