Soccer Mom: Unplugged

Tony Blair speaks out denouncing the trend toward anti-Amerianism in European politics.  Apparently, much like America's liberal left, Europeans would rather condemn US intervention in the world than acknowledge the slow and painful but steady push toward global democracy that our nation has engaged in since its inception.  Blair says:

"Sometimes they can be difficult friends to have. But the strain of, frankly, anti-American feeling in parts of European politics is madness when set against the long-term interests of the world we believe in.

"The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved. The danger is that they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved. We want them engaged."

The real problem is not that the world doesn't want us engaged.  If we isolate ourselves, we are accused of cold indifference and selfish disregard.  The problem is that the world wants us engaged on their terms.  Each nation wants a portion of the American economic pie without strings attached.  But requiring nothing of the international community would be akin to extending our "welfare state" domestic policy across the planet.  In essence, we would be subsidizing ideologies that are fundamentally at odds with democracy and capitalism - the two driving forces that created the thriving bastion of affluence and liberty we enjoy.  If we intend to preserve the freedoms we now have, we must wage war, ideologically, economically, and even at times militarily, against every state or institution that preaches or practices oppression.