I think we are living in an era of great change. The U.S. "used" to be the leader of the free world. My training, background and education dictates to me that in order to be a leader, you must have followers. Even more so, a good leader knows when to step aside and let someone else take the reigns" for a while, if it means the objective is reached.

Immediately after 9/11, we had every civilized, industrialized nation in this world reaching out to us with emotion, aid and a willingness to help us. Since then, we've alienated and ostracized most of our followers. We could have summoned a world conference of nations with the primary goal of rooting out terrorism and defeating it, something that could and would have benefited peoples of all nations throughout this world. The countries of this world could have implemented and fostered programs leading to basic mutul understanding amongst us with a goal of creating a simple peace and empathy amongst all nations in this world. Every country at that time (well most all truly civilized, industrialized, peaceful and economically viable countries, that is), would have jumped on board.

If we would have made this war a true war on radical Islamic Terrorism, I think we could have created a "World Terrorism Eradication Force," a global force that would have indeed spent the last 4-5 years rooting this virus out, in every crawl space and cubby hole and cave throughout the world... a global mission to end a virus that is spreading throughout our world faster than even a virus such as AIDS.

Instead, we alienate many of our best so-called allies, and we go to war -- essentially alone, a leader amongst a "Coalition of the Willing"... an oxymoronic term, diplomatically, and realistically, when you take an honest look at just which countries supplied 500 or 1000 mostly support troops and/or equipment.

Yes, we could have had a true war on terrorism. Instead, we invade Iraq.

We do not have many followers now in this world, and I have friends in numerous countries in this world who say the same. They are all like... "what the hell is your government doing?" And furthermore, we have major issues/differences with countries like Syria, Iran, N. Korea. Our government's policy seems to be, 'if you don't agree with us, we won't talk with you....' In fact, the Iranian and Venezualan Presidents were both in our country a few weeks ago, at the United Nations in New York. Not a single effort was made by our President or representatives of our government to initiate some dialogue with either of them. What kind of diplomatic foriegn policy is that? What ever happened to diplomacy? Okay, enough for now. As a true moderate, independently politically affiliated "patriat" (as most of you call me).... I'm eternally seeking the truth and the right thing to do! What ever happened to just good ol' boy common sense? Screw the sytem. Let us do what is right for our country and the world, our world, and better yet... God's world. -- B. Jon Traylor