izen , i agree with you on bush. but i disagree on your views about the democracy (american model or not) you are right there are problems in the world not because of american democracy but because of poor american foreign policies. in general america is doing great. it was doing even better in clinton's administration. so democracy is working fine for america. it's the foreign policies that was the cause of 9/11 all the protests are seen against american policies to only profit themselves and trying to control all world resources. the protest are not against american democracy. bush said that "they hate us because of our freedom". hell no bush they hate american policies which basically screws them most of the time if not always