> I don't consider the "Iraq stain" is of such major consequence 
> compared to all else that happens in the world that it would 
> disqualify the US. No country is perfect. While the US's actions in 
> Iraq would be seen by the vast majority of humanity as having fallen 
> short of the ideal, those who see the US as irrevocably stained by 
> Iraq tend tend to have very selective vision re the US's good points.

Russel, you misunderstood the purpose of this thread. The aim is to
critique you own country. Defending your own country and/or critiquing
other countries is not. Hence: so far a lot of ROFL posts and James did
not yet raise his axe :)

>> No. Germany?  Of course not.
> A far better candidate than many.

I live next to that country and I must agree. I don't think there are
many countries that have gone through a similar stage of self-reflection
and came out like the Germans did. Regretfully (former) eastern Germany
seems to have missed this stage.

> So, how does Belgium stand as a candidate? 

That's not a country. It is officially, but not in practice.

Wouter van Ooijen

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