The worst is you failing to make any connection to between original leaders and Bush in office. Leaders like Roosevelt(someone who was unpopular, but is remembered as great) cared about what people thought, but still swayed from popular opinion because they knew what was essentially good for this nation; Bush is nothing like that and you know it.
Your point of view is dangerous, because that view is reserved for idiots(such as muslim terrorists), but not the World's most powerful nation. The US has a duty of care, and has had it since World War II.
The worst thing is, Debussey (who loves the US) has spoken to many war veterans in Norway, all who were part of the secret resistance during the german occupation in WW2 (talk about brave fuckers). They, and their contemporaries ALL LOVED the US, and spoke so fucking warmly about the United States of America for their kindness, helpfullness, and for being the "leader in progress" and all of that shit. Now, a few decades later, the US = far from where it was, at least in many areas.

Shit, even in the 1970s, many norwegians viewed the US as the leader in progress, and "always a step ahead" and so on. And Norway was a fucking hillibilly country back then (and still is to a certain degree

)