Sandi: Yup, we (America) have done a fab job when it comes to maintaining a balance of power in the region, as well as picking some real winners in the region over the past 50 years (Shah of Iran, House of Saud, Saddam).
However, Obama’s repeated gaffes, such as advocating putting US troops into Pakistan, opening dialogue with Syria on a peer-to-peer basis, and using European soft power to coerce Iran out of their nuke program, concern me greatly. He really is a newbie at this kind of thing, and if I had to choose between them, I would take Hillary before him. And I think Hillary is as bad as Bill when it comes to waffling on issues of foreign policy and national security (see Clinton policy on Iraq, North Korea and terrorism in general).
Just so we are clear: I think the Bush Administration’s handling of the Iraq war borders on the criminal.
I agree with your comment on citizens owning guns to protect ourselves from the criminals AND the police. I am concerned that marion doesn’t feel that we have the right of self defense, however. I am going to have to dig up my Saint Augustine and bone up on the theories of Self Defense and The Just War.
