[Truthsearcher]

I am not saying all atheists can't love freedom for the right reasons. (By the way I am not a Christian, I am a deist.)

But I am skeptical of Orianna Fallaci's, let's not forget that she was ardently anti-US in the Vietnam War era, and she in this very article equates the Soviet's presense in Afghanistan with the US presence there today. Arguing that if the Afghans rejected the Soviet's attempt to "liberate" them, then they could reject ours as well. She is obviously a communist sympathizer if she thinks the Soviet Union has even "liberated" anyone.

Bottom line, I don't trust her. She is simply a leftist who perceives militant Islam as an greater enemy of socialism/communism than American capitalism. That's the only real difference between her and the other leftist who sees America and not Islam as the greater threat to their ideology. She may have stumbled onto some right positions, but it's for the wrong reasons.

[risk]

Now I understand your perspective, thanks!

But you raise yet another interesting issue: she's changed her mind. Maybe there are a lot of people around the world now who are changing their minds about America and what we've done for the world. We practically invented anti-americanism here with all of our self-examination, self-doubts and such. All good and healthy things for a growing republic. But now it's time to step back and realize that we've been one of the most important steps forward for democracy in the history of the human race.

I think Oriana has understood, finally. On FOX News Sunday, Brit Hume made the powerful observation that Europe is littered with the graves of American soldiers who were there to free the continent, not imperialize it. He pointed out that once the war was won, their comrades went home as soon as possible. I think the world, including Japan, is just starting to realize how incredible that was. Those men fought for freedom, not plunder.

I'll concede on the rest of your points :)