[Kevin]

I think 9/11 proved that if we don't go after the terrorists where they are, they will come after us. It's unfortunate, and I don't personally enjoy the role as the world policeman. However, America has earned a reputation worldwide as being able to solve everyone's problems.

In Africa, I think much of the AIDS epidemic is blamed on the USA. In the middle east, they blame the entire Israel/Palestine thing on us -- and many of them simply hate us for religious reasons. Anywhere there's a problem in the world, people think the US is capable of helping them. If we don't, there's always that fringe element that's going to want revenge.

9/11 was the Pearl Harbor of the 21st century. It was the reminder that the US is looked to for action. The UN has failed in its peacekeeping mission due to corruption and cowardice (see: Rwanda). The UN can no longer be looked to for military solutions to global problems. In fact, the UN really can't even be trusted to administer human aide programs (see: Iraq oil for food program).

If as America, we want to survive, often, we'll have to stick our necks out where it appears we don't belong -- just in case for some reason unbeknownst to us, our necks and interests do belong there.