I think you’re giving us, Americans, too much credit. We aren’t unique in our desire for comfort. The reality is, and btw I’m in no way condoning this behavior, but if America hadn’t been the bully some other nation would have gladly stepped in and if we don’t destroy the planet and the human race thru massive social unrest and climate change issues I’m sure someday this Empire will fall paving the way for the next Rome. You’re reacting in this article, as you do in many of your columns, to the reality of America being the empire that it is. However, I think, as I said, if America hadn’t then some other Rome/ Britain/ America would have gladly been spawned at some point because the real issue here isn’t one country verses another or one race or one religion, it is people. It is our species. Capitalism took hold because it created the most bang for a buck for the most people. Compared to socialist societies it’s not even close. Sure there are huge gaps in the classes at every level but again this is a species issue. In short and to quote Bill Hicks, ‘people suck.’ It’s easy to point at America at this time in history and America more than likely deserves that ire but remove America and it’s not as though everything becomes sunshine and rainbows. To act as though Americans are the only ones who suck or who would suck is short-sighted. Btw I’m American and sometimes I wish we were Canada. Just a quiet chill nation not fucking up anybody’s buzz. Unfortunately, as we’ve covered, people, and I do mean ALL people, suck.