well - this part of austria here was under russian influence after WW2 and my grandmother told me that they where by far not as bad as everyone thinks.

but other than that:

the major point in this discussion - and noone can hold anything against this - is, that every war that america lead (i am not saying that this is different in wars that a different nation started) was about either oil or money/economy in general. and to make it look better they said it was all for the sake of humanity. I absolutely agree with sly that NO nation has the right to interfere with the interrior deals of a different nation. This reminds me somehow of that major-rule they had in startrek. The point is, every time someone tried to "make things better" it resulted in a big bloodshed. Christians wanted to bring "god" to the godless - bloodshed. the first americans wanted to make america a better place to live - bloodshed. the list is endless.

Iraq has problems - fine. but then iraqi people have to learn to stand up and fight against the opression. no dictator is invincible. we alle are dáccord that democracy is one of the best, but you cannot force it uopn every nation - they have to learn it on their own - as hard as it may sound.