[walden]

The reason Germany, France, and even Democrats don't get it is that they TOO are operating under a fantasy ideology-- i.e., that political power can be exercised without military power, and that "peace" is possible without a strong, effective, rational Peace-keeper (i.e., the U.S.). They want the fantasy institution of the U.N. to be effective (that is, they want the picture of the U.N. that they have in their heads to be true and to fulfill this role)-- they continualy disconnect from reality in refusing to examine the history of U.N. actions and failures to act in assessing whether their wish for U.N. effectiveness is realistic.

[nathanbedford]

Yes, I am afraid they see the Bush administration as a pit bull that has slipped its leash.

To work another metaphor, they see us as the monster and themselves as Dr. Frankenstein whose duty it is to control their brawny but childlike tool. Their means of control was to be the UN and NATO but we have slippped those leashes.

If we have any sense we will not docilly put the UN leash back on for the occupaption of Irak but we will instead reward our friends and punish our enemies, while we do good for the Iraqi people. Let the liberals call that "imperialism" but it something the world needs a good dose of.