No one, least of all an American, wants to admit their government is a totalitarian state. I was raised to believe in the rights of free men and women to determine their own destiny, whether it is as a citizen capable of changing unjust legislation through voting, or collectively, as a nation.
   By going along with Sharon's government in calling Arafat irrelevant, the US administration has lost its own legitimacy as a peace broker, and as an arm of democracy. President Bush, while calling for democratic elections in Palestine, has refused to accept their probable outcome.
  By arbitrating a totalitarian wish against the will of an entire people, the US has not only denied the Palestinian people due process, but compromised the principles of democracy. We have in essence, shown that we do not believe in democracy for anyone else but ourselves.
  The US has now extended its view of terrorists to include anyone protecting their homes from a brutal occupying force. No doubt we will soon find that an entire generation of young, angry Arab men will attack any and all US interests both in the Middle East, and the states.
  My feeling? At gut level, I too, am angry, seeing my country arrogantly preempting hostilities, often in places where none existed before. Or, worse, watching the US junta exasperating the anger of people who might otherwise have changed their views had they seen the Americans fight back against terrorism, in a just manner.
  After the attack against America, Iranians responded with words of sympathy, and spontaneously honored candlelight vigils for the fallen Americans. Does anyone honestly think now that Bush has lumped Iran into the Axis of Evil equation, that they will stand with us now?
  Now by attempting to force our will on the Palestinian people, we have lost their respect. My view? The Arab states, having enough of US hypocrisy in the region, should place an embargo against US, and give us a bit of our own medicine.
  The newly organized Justice Tribunal should charge Arial Sharon with war crimes, and the US president should be charged as well, for his complicity in this horror.
  Sadly, America has disqualified itself as a democracy, and so it follows that we can no longer in a moral position to lead "the war against terrorism." America has won some battles, but now it is clear, morally speaking, we have lost the war.