The Final Countdown - #9 - Obama's Image Around the Globe

Let's be perfectly honest, America isn't well loved around the world these days. Immediately following 9/11 the vast majority of the world rallied around the USA. There were newspaper headlines saying "We are all Americans" and people the world over were praying for us and ready to join us in the battle against terrorism.

The current administration took that good will and squandered it on an ill-waged war in Iraq. Now before some of you call me a hater - let me be perfectly clear that I am grateful for our men and women in uniform. I am supportive of our troops, I am not supportive of the war or the administration that (mis) led us into it. I know several military folks personally who are supporting Obama because of how the current administration has handled Iraq and Afghanistan.

So here we are 7 years post 9/11 with much of the world thinking we see ourselves as the world's police, that we can and will have our way regardless of the validity of our reasons. The absence of WOMD in Iraq has compromised the integrity of our "intelligence" and the maverick/cowboy quality of GWB has compromised the true nature of America.

John McCain is more of the same.

Obama is loved around the world. His recent European trip gathered crowds that were reminiscent of Kennedy's from the 60's. We have a chance here to restore our standing in the world...at a time when I believe that is critical. America is still the most powerful nation in the world and if we wish to maintain that status then we have to have allies that like us for more than our money.

To the folks out there who believe that an Obama presidency opens us up for another terror attack I can only say that if there are those out to attack us they will do it regardless of who is in the White House. Hate is timeless and opportunistic. I happen to think that if America's standing in the world is restored that the evil that lurks in the hearts of terrorists may think twice before coming after us again.