The US has many real and lasting achievements to its name, but you list some of the myths of American exeptionalism. For example:

inventions that allowed mankind to progress

True but not exceptional. Lots of other countries have done this as well, especially in Europe.

pharmaceutcals to allow mankind to survive illness that killed not that long ago

Ditto above.

a military might that saved the world twice in a century from despots and tyrants

No. Played a vital part in WWII (not so much WWI) but not as much as the USSR, and certainly did not 'win' the war on its own.

a country that than showed compassion for former enemies and helped them and allies rebuild

True. The Marshall Plan was very enlightened.

Reagan forced the demise of the Soviet Union and freed hundreds of millions from the yoke of communism

No. It was mostly down to Gorbachev's reforms. Reagan had the sense to go along with them.

Etc.

Obama's approach to Iran is so much better than Bush's but I fear he is also destined to fail if he publicly treats Iran like an errant child:

it must be followed by constructive action by the Iranian government

Iran must demonstrate its commitment to transparency

it must grant unfettered access to IAEA inspectors within two weeks

Iran must take concrete steps to build confidence that its nuclear program will serve peaceful purposes

You must do as you're told! You're a very naughty boy!

This stuff may play well at home, and it doesn't matter what you think of Iran in private, but Iran is a proud, sovereign state, and if you make public statements like this, you're guaranteed to put Iran's back up and reduce the likelihood of an agreement.

If the US really want a settlement with Iran then its public diplomacy has got to be a lot better than this,

When Matt Bivens puts it like that, you can see just how much genuine good could be done round the world (and has been done in the past) for such a relatively small amount of money. Instead, it is poured down the drain in bankers' bonuses and pointless wars.

Those with the real power to change things - today's stunted 'statesmen' - seem not to have the political will or the imagination to see beyond their own parochial concerns.

Sad.

You ask what civil liberties have been removed from American citizens, and Jose Padilla has been used as an example.

As a non-American, I'm also very interested in the liberties that have been removed from non-Americans, including British citizens. I'm aware that different rules apply to non-Americans, as seen in the detention of foreign nationals at Guantanamo.

Most of these suspected terrorists have been denied habeas corpus and have been locked up in virtual solitary confinement for years. Most of them appear to be innocent of anything more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of them have been tortured. Some of them have been tortured over and over again.

This is indefensible and these are not the acts of a civilized country.

You say you're in favour of the projection of American power abroad. I can tell you that after Iraq, Guantanamo, Bhagram, Abu Ghraib, extraordinary rendition, etc, etc, etc, the last thing many of us non-Americans want is more of the same.

Have you been to Germany? That's pretty normal.

I remember that era well and Brian Clough's larger-than-life presence on British screens at the time. It also features two of the finest actors around in Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall.

Interesting fact about Michael Sheen: he was (still is, I believe) a very good footballer and, as a boy, was asked to sign for Arsenal's youth team, but turned it down because it would have meant moving to London. Football's loss... etc.

Let's be clear about this, Obama got the Nobel Prize mainly because he's not George Bush, but also because the rest of the world, as represented by the Norwegians, hopes that he can guide America back onto the right track, where it works with and strengthens the rest of the world rather than working against and weakening the aspirations of the rest of us, whether it's climate change or human rights or whatever.

But this is only a hope and not, to be honest, an expectation, as Obama certainly talks the talk but has not yet delivered in so many areas (Guantanamo still with us, no torture prosecutions, American militarism in full flow, etc).

I'd like to think that the Nobel award might just play a small part in prodding Obama into doing the right thing, but it's a precarious hope because, as Keillor points out, back home the crazies are snapping at his heels and there's the ever-present danger of the lunatics again taking over the asylum.

The straw that broke the camel's back - the Wall coming down and the end of Soviet communism - was Mikhael Gorbachev letting it be known that the USSR would not intervene if the Warsaw Pact countries went off message.

Then, in a rush, all the pent-up pressures, bottled up till then by the threat of Soviet reprisals, came bursting through.

Homelessness is a problem in nearly all countries. Iffy pageants take place everywhere, not least the US. So what's new?

I think the clue is in the name: "Miss Homeless Belgium".

Something makes me suspect that "Mr Homeless Belgium", or some such, would not have pinged the Broadsheet radar.

And, call me prudish, but I don't think "These people need a fucking house" graced the article overmuch.

From what little (mercifully) I've seen of Fox News, I'm baffled that it is even allowed to call itself 'news' - it certainly wouldn't be here in the UK.

Its output of lies, hate and fear is in effect a war on the mental health of America, and all of it orchestrated by an ex-Australian to his own shady agenda.