...Do they hate us for this? Well, a few do, obviously, but most I am sure either fear us or grudgingly respect us. So should we expect gratitude then? Of course not. The most important things we do in life rarely elicit that kind of response--no good deed goes unpunished, as they say--and our own quiet satisfaction for a job well done, not to say the safety of our children, should suffice. But are we scorned? Don't be ridiculous. I'll tell you how we'll be scorned. Elect John Kerry and if he pulls back on the War on Terror while it is still half or a third finished, leaving most of the advances in place in tremendous jeopardy, probably to be rolled back, then we'll really be scorned by history and by our adversaries. (What do you think that editorialist in Le Monde will really be thinking when he writes his column superficially praising America for her return to "sanity"?) Oh, and for those of you who think Kerry can be trusted to carry on that war, think of this... Think how the world will interpret a vote by America throwing Bush out of office. Think of the Kurdish people. Think of the students demonstrating today in Iran. Then think about whom you really have scorn for.