"Boisterously cheered?" Come now. Perhaps the Post acquiesced too readily to the Administration's rationalizations for toxic domestic and international policies, but let's not mistake it for the Washington Times.

I worked in the USA as a medical phyisicist for 13 years prior to taking early retirement after 9/11 and returning to my homeland, Canada. Having worked both sides of the border, professionaly, let me say that I get deeply vexed when I read editorials like that in the Washington Post. We found that the average American is ill informed about other countries and that their media folks are extremely arrogant when it comes to international affairs. The double standard that the USA applies to especially Middle Eastern politics is laughable. And yes, very few Canadians and Europeans take such lectures by the US press seriously. For example, Iran as a participant of the NPT has maintained a good working status with IAEA inspections during its nuclear power development program. For the USA to undermine international law that is on Iran's side, and suggest that certain countries sould never have the knowledge to build nuclear reactors for energy production is insane. Yes Israel will find near nations with such technology a potential threat but this does not override the American attempt to rewrite the current rules of the NPT. If the USA was serious about matters of nuclear weapons, why did they sit back and allow Israel to develop them outside the NPT? And now India will be made a exception to international law for the sake of American business. America, please give the world and break and begin some consistency with your international politics that is driven by what is best for your country. If you don't, you will continue to live a "dream life of empire" on dollars borrowed from China and the Middle East until your national default on these loans will be devastating to Americans and others around the world. Your national debt is approaching 10 trillion dollars that is an outrageous legacy to leave your children and grand-children. Only when you get your own house in order will the world again show some respect for your leadership. Until then, quit pontificating as if you have any "moral authority".

re: "There have been innumerable violent coups against elected governments in the past few decades. Many have had initial popular support."

I asked for specific examples. You provided none.

re: "the nonsense statement that there is not a legal democratic structure in place at all in the United States"

The evidence is on my side that it has been totally subverted. Oh, there may be a "structure" in place, but since it is packed with incetuous criminals who, even as we speak, are busy insulating themselves from any possible legal action or even any scrutiny, it is de facto corrupted beyond redemption.

re: "I just don't have any fantasies of impressing chicks by being a "revolutionary" to justify."

I certainly do not need revolutionary ideals in order to impress chicks. They're far too mesmerized already with my wit, charm, intelligence and devilish good looks.

re: "Predicting the future is a bitch, too."

If I run a car over the edge of a cliff, the fact that it will hit the ground and blow up is not a "prediciton". It is a certainty. What has been set in motion is not reversible, and stating what is the logical outcome does not require me to have psychic abilities.

re: "I have noticed that some of what they claim about "liberals" is actually true"

That you would pay any attention whatsoever to pinheads like Coulter does not speak well of you.

re: "Some people really do want the US to experience some kind of extreme collapse that involves massive amounts of human suffering (all over the world)."

That would be Bush & Co. They've been wildly successful, too.

re: "I'll try to do my bit to help turn things around"

I used to be an optimist. Now I'm a realist.

As usual Glenn, you write with a depth of understanding of the Enlightenment that is awesome compared to your current rhetorical opponents.

You understand the Constitution and the context in which it came to be an expression of liberty, despite it's bitter compromises.

You understand the ongoing work of molding that sacred document into a more effective protection of human rights and liberties against economic and military exploitation, oppression and the willful aggression that accompanies enormous wealth, status and power.

You understand that the Constitution was not intended by those who drafted it to limit its proclamations of liberty to "United States citizens." Rather, you understand that the universal nature of the Enlightenment would rebel at any half-assed legal justification that would propose to limit liberty in any way authoritarian.

This understanding presents in everything you write, having been handed to you by the angels of Light and told "take this scroll and eat it!" so that it becomes the very part of you.

You understand history and the stupidity of longing for the days of theocracy and authoritarian certainty.

In summary, I just wanted to kiss your ass, blow a little smoke at you, pat you on the back and say, "don't let the bastards get ya down!"

Although, I'm sure some will think I'm a confederate placed here to make a commercial (I'm not), I've already started donating what little I can afford to paint the walls blue at http://www.actblue.com/

Blessings, kind regards and ~Namaste~