Dear Wobbles...

I pretty much agree.. 100% :)

I don't recall ever actually claiming that the US was the 'good' guys, just the guys more likely to produce a secure outcome for us.
I don't feel they have done their or our cause much good by the actions you stated, I'm sure there must have been better ways to achieve beneficial goals than brute force.

Sadly, if one examines the history of most countries, even those who the US bulldozed this way or that, they would have ultimately done the same to their neighbours or to segments of their own communities, and for the same reasons.

...and this partly explains on a human level at least, why I choose to align myself with a stream of history which is independant of all that.
I can bat with the best of em about the political angles and intrigue, but my heart is always with Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Nothing has ever given me such joy and wholeness, as being a part of that which is shaping history in a dimension not often seen at the forefront of things. I believe many African leaders who do show good faith to their people have their ethical grounding from mission schools and in that same stream of history.

But Mr Machievelli is always close by, lurking, tempting, luring man and woman into webs of self interest, greed and lust for power.
As Jesus said "Be in the world, but not 'of' it"

Wobbles,

You stole my thunder.

After reading though the posts I was about to bring that up too.

Isn't it amazing how many people don't even know about that sort of stuff?

And you can be sure that the more more ludicrous members of this forum will be back to argue their same old predictable arguements the next time this topic is brought up; and possibly accomanied by the o-so predictable accusations of Anti-Americanism and terrorist sympathy as well.

Mr Boaz,

Your Bible quote is something I try telling myself whenever I feel like fleeing our insane and somewhat blinded society.

Thanks saintfletcher for your thoughts.
The world is in a mess and someone should do something about it.
Then I woke up and realised that I am someone.