I like your comments about free speech.

I will exercise mine, appreciating the DNews's tolerance, to say this article is much too starry-eyed.

A "beacon" is a light that can be seen from afar. A beacon is not just (or at all) a military force to make pre-emptive strikes over non-existent WMD.

A beacon does not impoverish its own people. It is a light that shines and can be seen all around without compulsory means.

The nations' founders did not send troops on crusades into other nations, and did not interfere in all aspects of the people of THIS nation's life.

We have fallen from a greater height and now differ little from many other western governments, except for the extent of our borrowed money (from the often unwilling and grieved taxpayer) and have lost much of the spirit of freedom.


This time of year always suggests reform and return to the old standards. We could do Washington (George W.) proud if we have the will.

We still have freedom of speech, thanks be to God and the people.

It's of great value to once in a while step back and take a look at how privileged we really are in this country. God bless America!

Jay, you nailed it. Thanks for your insight. May we be worthy that God will bless America!

What a smooth talking but uninformed piece of diatribe. America was wrong to go into Iraq...and even Colin Powell admitted his deceit. How many billions of dollars, thousands of American lives and US PATRIOT ACT-like pieces of legislation will it take before Americans see through this "secret-combination" cabal that controls America and American policy and the destiny of world government agendas being foisted upon unsuspecting American ignoramasus? Sir, your misinformation is annoying and destructive to the Republic.

Nicely said, Mr. Evensen.

For those of you that look at life as a glass half full, you will always focus on the mistakes and miss the goals and aspirations of a nation as a whole. To Vshar - since you did not read the entire article by the writer, he specifically mentioned the mistakes of the Iraq situation. Yes, there is much work that needs to be done and we need to constantly focus on and learn from mistakes. But make no mistake about it, this is still a great country that offers so much to the individual. For those that are from other countries ask yourself why you are here. For those that like to constantly complain ask why you don't get involved and work towards a positive change.

How can you talk about the monetary cost of the war when it pales, in comparison, to the money being spent by the current administration. The patriot act, though it helped us to thwart further attacts, by evesdropping on terrorist, will now be our undoing because the same powers will be used against citizens by the czars in control now.
Lastly, can you really talk about the individual, when our INDIVIDUAL freedoms are being taken away every day. Not to mention our individual property rights. (redistribution) You have been blinded by Bush hatred and now you have a true marxist in charge. The end is nearer.

@Vshar, let's hope your right that the end to your greed, selfishness, and unmitigated gulabiity is near. Let's all pray that through the policies of Obama, the redistribution stolen wealth, the re-morring of the economy on the firm foundation of locally produced goods and services, that God will once again bless America as in the past (pre Ronald Regan).

I look positively on our situation as a glass about one-fourth FULL, rather than three-fourths empty. Like to do something about those other three-fourths though.

I fear the loosening of the grip is only a military one. We now have ultimate control over the oil resources of Iraq, which was the primary reason for the war according to Alan Greenspan. Our economic grip has tightened.

The U.S. military intervention in Iraq was a several-year-long mass murder of tens of thousands of innocents.

Anyone with moral scruples would not celebrate such collateral damage.