Oh, "Peter Darling", Ask the "Huge" Minority Jewish Population in Spain what they think of the acitons of one couple named Ferdinand and Isabella taken in 1492. Think Spain might need a "Moral Shower" after the "Inquisition", and horrific beastly actions taken in it's Civil War? Let us know results!

jim, framingham, USA

Democracy is the oppression of the minority by the majority. In this country so much of our lives is compelled, such as how to educate/bring-up your kids and to what age, that we are only free in trivial matters such as recreation. Concrete sovereignty is the only escape from western style slavery.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Ask America's native indians if they think that they live in a democracy, they may say NO and they would be right.

Peter Fordham, Pego, Spain

Well written, courageous as well. The only thing consistent about world history post-world war II is that everyone feels they have the right to bash the US when they don't feel threatened, and demand that the US intervene when they do feel threatened. Everyone wants freedom, who will fight for it?

HarryT, Wilton, USA,

Bill, Stavanger, Norway: All I have is £10 and I give £1 to a beggar. Another man has £1000 and he gives a beggar £3. Whose contribution was more generous?

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

Bill, Norway, you're right, but remember that the US population is five times bigger than the UK's, so per capita the US gives only half as much. Norway's giving is smaller in total but per person it is six times greater than the US. Like for like, you have to contrast the US with most of Europe.

Mary, London,

Nick "It's time to reduce US'military power"

And who is going to "bell the cat"?

Steve Bush, Cirencester, UK

European governments are incredibly dependent upon the US for strategic reasons. You can't really believe that EU countries could simultaneously afford their socialist economies and a military substantive enough to block any real threat? May I suggest a read of Kagan's Paradise and Power?

Lauren, London,

[quote]There may not be firm legal criteria for intervening in the internal affairs of states, but a body of custom has weakened the taboo against it, gradually modifying the concept of national sovereign[/quote]
Really?!Wait for arrival of Russian... We go to interfere with internal affairs of GB

bandito, Orenburg,

OMG! You accuse France beacouse it has not broken international law?! Here this HYPOCRISY!!!

bandito, Orenburg,

Denying nations their sovereignty cuts both ways. The denier WILL be denied its own sovereign rights, all to the tune "these are hard days".

A.Y., Moscow, RF

"Or are you telling me they were over there on a package tour and wandered into the firing line by mistake?"

So all of those Britains held at G-Bay and returned to Britain and did not face trial in the UK were guilty. The very fact they are being denied trials by the US speaks volumes to me.

David Tolputt, Milton Keynes,

I don t think so. If you start bending the rules you merely encourage those people, who abound in the USA and Britain, to make such numerous collateral arrangements that will provide them with an opportunity on such an occasion. For example, how do we know the Burmese have refused help? The Americans could easily have phrased their offer, particularly by means of the usual disguises, in such a way as the Burmese have a genuine concern for the security of their country; the destabilisation of which might cause far more harm in the long run than the refusal of immediate aid. Iraq is a current example.

Henry Percy, London, UK

A country that imprisons between 5 & 14 times more of its people than any civilised nation can't possibly have anything to teach us

Andy Dyer, London, UK,

It is obscene and absurd to base anti-US views on the idea that democracy is not perfect. Winston Churchill understood: "..democracy is the worst form of government except all the others.. ".

And while I'm quoting Churchill: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.".

Mike, Sydney, Australia

Today, the biggest threat is the US itself with its lack of respect for intl law,treaties,conventions and its own constitution. Its proud nationalism with corporatism and militarism (and propaganda)is very similar to the political illness (fascism) which led to WWI and II.
WAKE UP AMERICA

Jean-Robert, Paris, France

Surely, the question is who are the 'Rogue States' today? I believe the US. & the UK. can qualify on account of their military adventures, not sanctioned by the UN.

ian cheese, london, uk

There is one overarching problem with all of NATO, The UN and so many governments said problem is of the elite of monied and powerful men and their dynasties who ultimately 'control' by every means Not-Transparent those at the heads of the likes of The UN. There are too many hidden agendas.

Steve, Bournemouth, England

NATO was born of fear. The US was invited back into Europe in 1948 because Europeans were deathly afraid of a Soviet invasion. Hatred of the US has grown as fear of Russia has diminished. Most of the people who would have you believe they have a "principled" stand versus the US really don't.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

Russia and China are countries how can break any your decision as well as support. And only one true way is to increase collaboration in way to save people.

Democracy not always support human rights as well as authoritarianism sometimes support it. And not each nation are ready to be democratic.

Pavel S.Tsarevskiy, Samara, Russia Federation

I'm from Russia. I was in USA (SF, CA) and see many American liberties. As well as I communicate with members of democratic USA party.

Summarize these expirience I can say one thing the only true stable democraties are those which will be created by citizens of the country not outside people.

Pavel S.Tsarevskiy, Samara, Russia Federation

Jean-Robert, Paris, France

You must prefer the sound of jack-boots on Paris streets?

G. Patton, las vegas, USA

A very thoughtful piece but reading the comments reminds me of Reagan's wish that the U.S. could restrict its membership in international bodies to the Pan-American Union and so get insulted in only three languages.

Richard F. Miniter, Stone Ridge, New York, U.S.A.

.The authority of the UN has sadly been white anted by the big nations when it suited them e.g. Iraq. Ultimately the UN is only as effective as the desire of all nations to make global decisions for the benefit of all humanity.

K Singh, Melbourne, Australia

Sad but true: countries get the governments they deserve. As we have found out to our cost, trying to impose western models of democracy from outside only makes matters worse

Richard, Bexhill, UK

The criticism of Amnesty International is bizarre. Is the author seriously suggesting that the acts of rendition and torture which the USA has perpetrated, without trial or accountability should be conveniently ignored because there are far more important "crimes" going on elsewhere ?

Michael Perman, London, UK

A league of genuine democracies would possess huge political and moral weight. Entry criteria would having elections monitored by international observers who certify them free and fair. Countries like Russia/China have reduced the UN security council to little more than a talking shop. Great shame

James Peel, Leeds, UK

Damian, Israeli oppression? What about their own home-grown and Iran sponsord oppressors like Hamas? Do you want to teach & preach Afghans about oppression as well? Anti-Israeli sentiment won't change the fact, the the worst oppressors in Muslim world are Muslims themselves.

Vickie, TA,

Rob, Singapore.

To remove Russia and China from UN would push those countries back into dismal self imposed isolation. Therefore, pressure to integrate these states into mainstream of democratic good behaviour may be a better way forward. To exclude them would bring on the worst kind of reaction

Boris, Belgravia, London

For god sake, sort out our own problems first before trying to sort out the world problems. The youth crime has reached such a stage here in UK that I couldn’t go out to stop some of them kicking my car in front of my house the other day for fear of violence against me.

Mark, Birmingham, UK

I find it laughable that Obama claims to be candidate to restore American prestige, yet stole McCain's 'League of Democracies' plan. The foreign policy ideas of both men were laid out by self-authored articles in Foreign Affairs. I found McCain substantive, but Obama was vague and general.

James, Newcastle,

<<< France has been known to bend international rules >>>

Unlike the US who never bends them?

if the US had wanted to it would have steamed in regardless of allies - and it would have spent the last few weeks pleading to the world to be allowed to help to cover it's back

Alan, Edinburgh, UK

Jean-Robert, Paris, France

You are absolutely right. It is also time to dismantle NATO for the sake of world peace. If these were done, the other nations would not see the need to form blocks too.
With the west intend in world dominance, the other countries have no choice but be united too.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Rob, Singapore,

How many democracies r there in d world today? Remove Russia n China from d UN? That will leave you with only d West n a few other countries. Does democracy means only an elected government or r there more to it? If u count true democracy, there may be none left. Plse. advise

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Tom Gwynn, Mansfield, USA
I am with all peaceloving people and against extremism in any form. I am wondering why there r "nasties" who do not represent any country fighting you. Have u any idea? Have u done anything these people r against? To every action there is an reaction, right?

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

For John Annis of London:
USA's 0.16% GNI equates to $21,197,000,000
UK's 0.36% GNI equates to $8,839,000,000
Norway's 0.95% GNI equates to $3,349,000,000

In terms of amount given USA tops the list, Germany comes second with 0.37% GNI which equates to $11,048,000,000

Nick's spot on.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

John, Manchester, UK

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So is evil. In your eyes, Osama is a terrorist but in Osama's eyes you are the terrorists.
If Osama is the terrorist, why did he become one? Have you ponder over this? He probably was reacting to your actions which you think were right.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Since the USSR's Fall the world doesn't need anymore a powerfull US. Recent history (Iraq) shows that ,without deterrence from other countries, temptation to use military power is too difficult to resist. It's time to reduce US'military power.

Jean-Robert, Paris, France

Nick, Rotherham, UK

Does giving the most aid in the world entitles you to do anything even if it is not correct?. If the US gives the most aid, it is not a surprise after all, it is the world's only superpower and the largest economy in the world.. Giving is a blessing and not a condition.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The US and EU are democracies? The same "democracies" that steal native peoples' pension funds and welfare services, and use to money to subidize cheap labor for global corporations, and to buy votes from 10s of millions of imported Third Worlders?

MaryJ, San Francisco, CA

Nick from Rotherham: the US gives 0.16% of GNI, at the bottom of the list of humanitarian aid given by developed countries. Contrast that with the 0.36% given by the UK, or even the 0.95% given by Norway and learn which end is up.
Most US aid is military in nature anyway.

John Annis, London,

Firstly remove China and Russia from the Un as they are not democracies. Also you cannot impose democracy on a country, they must come to find it themselves otherwise it will be abused and fail miserably.

Rob, Singapore,

It is easy for Europeans to criticize the US, and yes, we deserve some of that criticism. But please remember that the islamic terrorists have a list, and though my country's name is at the top of it, your country's name is on it. Guantanmo is an ugly place, but these are very nasty enemies we fight

Tom Gwynn, Mansfield, USA

Following Nick's argument, apparently killing hundreds of thousands in Iraq is OK because we meant well, and now we should inflict aid by force in Burma because any action is better than none?

richard, horley,

Sorry love but the key remains the legitimacy of government.

Daedalus, Cohasset, Ma., USA

Guantanamo is full of terrorists. Terrorists should have no human rights. end of story.

John, Manchester, UK

"Callous neglect" comes in many forms and Mbeki in South Africa is a prime example. Who would have thought that the Rainbow Nation's great gift from Western liberals would be to ignore AIDS and give succour to Zimbabwe? We created South Africa, took it away from responsible government, apparently.

Malcolm Turner, Alsager, England

And which democracy will liberate the Palestinians from Israeli oppression? Iran?
Until the USA, UK and others demonstrate that they are true supporters of Democracy and Human Rights this concept will look merely like a gambit allowing the unopposed invasion by the few. Like Iraq?

Damian, Brighton, UK

That's right P Smith - keep going on about Guantanamo. I expect it helps you feel better about insisting on inaction while hundreds of thousands die in Myanmar. Better they die than the US appear to have any humanitarian virtue. By the way - which country gives ther most aid of any in the world?

Nick, Rotherham, UK

US. Guantanamo. Legitimacy ?

P Smith, Rugeley,