This book sounds interesting to me, I think I am going to get a copy, has anyone read it?

Friendly Fire - Council on Foreign Relations

No... never heard of it. Is the book trying to say that anti-americanism results from our involvement of other countries affairs abroad? That we are trying to act as the 'worlds policeman'?

I don't know... When I read it I will post about it.

But our policies to go out abroad to deal with these rogue nations and groups in return make conditions in our country safer and also for those who travel abroad for business and pleasure.

Really? And our involvment in Afghanistan had this effect? Has our involvment in the "drug war" had this effect?

I don't think so.

Tadpole is right, it does sound like an interesting book. KOS is right we shouldn't have to pay so that every other country in the world can hate us more. True most countries are our allies, but helping them, would it really be worth it?

I believe it has. It has slowed down the traffic of illegal drugs here and abroad. Yes, I think the effect of our policies has been positive.

Back to the subject please.

Start a new thread, or use the thread I started.

Furthermore, as someone who has actively participated in the war on drugs abroad for the better part of a decade, I can assure you we have slowed nothing.

It might be useful (notwithstanding what's said in the book) to define what "Anti Americanism" is. I suspect for instance that the French are much more resistant to what they see as a passive but insidious attack on their culture whilst here in the UK any "Anti Americanism" is more aligned to political persuasion, for instance Labour (left) are pro Clinton USA and anti Bush USA whilst it's vice versa for the conservatives (right). Massive generalisations, but you might get my drift.

"Americanism" isn't vested in a political context here but it is a term that is merely a sign of the narrow chauvinistic claim of American world superiority that grips the conscious of this nation. I'm wondering how many times you have heard (in the British political mainstream) that "so and so is anti-British". But undoubtedly you find such terminology prevalent in the political superstructures of previous fascist nations. For example it was common to accuse someone of being a "good German" or "anti-German" under Nazi Germany. That kind of ideology, including the narrow view of "Americanism", is rooted in nationalism and authoritarianism.

But in terms of from the outside-in, "anti-Americanism" has a more tangible meaning. Some people have been pushed to a certain extent that they don't merely disagree with the current prevalent politics in power in the United States but the United States itself. Osama Bin Laden for example would see the death of Clinton (from the left) and lets say Bush Sr. (from the right) as an equal victory in his eyes. Simply because of the fact that they are Americans.

But most opposition to the current American regime in the world doesn't hold that definition. Most people don't see the American people and the United States as an entity itself as the enemy but merely its government's policies.