American people are a fortunate lot

For years now, I've made it a practice in this column at Thanksgiving time to list some of the things for which Americans should be grateful. Here's my 10-point list for this year:

1. National elections at midterm which, though they were beset by vocally sharp and caustic language at times, brought about a power change in Washington peacefully and in orderly fashion. That is not always the case in lands elsewhere where democracy does not rule.

2. A strong American economy that has survived recessions, 9/11 terrorist attacks and a war in Iraq. A rising stock market and low unemployment are testimony to the economy's buoyancy.

3. A trial in Baghdad, which, despite rotating judges and assassinated participating attorneys, has with reasonable fairness under Iraqi law, pronounced Saddam Hussein guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him for them. Whether he dies or lives, Saddam will not again commit murder against his own people, or his perceived enemies elsewhere.

4. Although jihadist violence remains a major, and perhaps growing, threat, the influence and leadership of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization appear to be fading.

5. A volunteer U.S. Army has performed bravely in Afghanistan and Iraq and deserves the support and thanks of its nation. In a few instances where individual soldiers have behaved badly, they have borne the full brunt of military justice.

6. A shift from unilateral to multilateral diplomacy on the part of the Bush administration. This is particularly evident in the case of North Korea, where the administration has opted for six-party diplomacy and enlisted China as the leading participant to bring pressure to bear on Pyongyang. Though North Korea may not, in the end, give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons, no U.S. military action against North Korea is on the horizon.

7. Though some snigger, as unsophisticated, at President Bush's conviction that all men deserve to be free, the desire to be free is a

powerful motivation for mankind. Though people in some lands, particularly in the Islamic crescent of the Middle East, remain in bondage, democracy of one kind or another, continues to make strides. Freedom House, the nonprofie monitoring agency, says the picture remains "distinctly positive," citing broad scope for open political competition, respect for civil liberties, independent civic life and independent media.