To: Selectric II who wrote (229734 ) 2/21/2002 5:39:39 PM From: MSI Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 769670 "...encouraging capitalism and moderate governments everywhere?" Absolutely. Not with frightened, terrorist-supporting royals who pay those who kill our citizens, however. Then lecture us. We don't need to "base our military operations" in Saudi Arabia, but we probably will anyway, even if US consumers cease doing business with them. These hysterical geopolitical fears are used to convince Americans that either: A) America owes the world a living. We're rich, they're poor, and that'll be fixed by the US handing out billions in many creative ways. Even if they hate us, kill our citizens, bribe our politicians, send dope over, immigrate criminals, etc etc. Doesn't matter. "US Guilt" is the theme, for US gelt to flow freely B) America is scared of those bad people who can't get their act together, and will form bad, bad regimes, and cause terrorism here and abroad. It's the US responsibility to fix that. The countries involved aren't responsible. It's the US. Because. Because the US developed the nuke, and stuff like that. Or something. The truth: the US does NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS OF THESE COUNTRIES. NOT INDIA AND PAKISTAN. NOT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE. THEY HAVE TO FIX THEIR OWN PROBLEMS. ONCE THEY REALIZE THAT THEY WILL FIX THEM, NOT BEFORE, BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH MORE PROFITABLE FOR ALL LEADERSHIP ON ALL SIDES TO HAVE WAR WITH THE U.S. If you call that isolationism, fine. In actuality, it is common sense. War is so much more profitable politically and business-wise for leadership in US and abroad, that there will be no common sense, as long as the American people are not involved in the decision process. We just pay the price.