But, gareth, the fact that you use the American reluctance to become involved in the two great wars as an example of their reluctance to dominate the rest of the world just proves my point that their current politics are wrong...

As I have stated numerous times I believe that how actions are percieved is as important as how they actually are (in international relations anyway). While you and I might agree that democracy is the superiour form of government (even if we do not agree as to what democracy is, in details at least) I don't believe that we, through logic or use of force, convince someone who believes that the king ordained by God is the only one fit to rule that he is wrong.

However, what if the Americans had actually made a "preemptive strike" against Japan (I know that they did not have the military capabilities to do so, but, for the sake of argument, let us assume they had)? Would there not have been people claiming that they were wrong? Had the Japanese not had the time to invade neighbouring countries and strike at Pearl Harbour I am certain that they would have had sympathy from all over the world - including from the American people.

Now the Americans seem to be convinced never to risk another Peal Harbour, or 9/11 one might add. Rather arrest one too many innocent people on suspicion of terrorism, and rather invade one too many countries that turned out to not really be a threat...

While these actions are perfectly logical to a lot of American people, and to many of those supporting the American policies, they are just not going to be accepted by those victimised because of them. The wife of the man who is put to jail without trial, and later released because he turned out not to be a terrorist anyway is not going to accept a "better safe than sorry" excuse from the authorities. To her the actions of this democracy have become indistinguishable from those of a totalitarian regime.

I believe that democracy is something that we must fight for - but the fight cannot solely be fought by soldiers sent abroad. Part of the fight for democratic freedom has to be fought by every citizen in the democracy. It is the fight against fear, the fight not to let fear of terrorism overthrow the rights of freedom. Yes a democratic society is open, and that openness leaves it somewhat vulnerable. But to me that is the price of freedom, and is a price that is (in a true democratic fashion) shared by the members of the socity.

So of course democracies cannot engage in preemptive strikes - even if such attacks made logical sense they would almost always be percieved to be unjust. And as I said earlier, when it comes to exporting democracy perception is as much the truth as anything else.

qanatoli