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What is wrong with people? When following the debate in Sweden, and I guess in the rest of Western Europe with some exceptions, one can believe that the big threat against democracy and security is the USA. Not much could be more wrong.

Was it really better when we had another superpower that “balanced” the USA, a thing that many people seem to want back? Well, ask the victims of communism if they think it was better.

Who should balance the USA? Communist China? Or a theocratic dictatorship in the Middle East? Prefer not. Some wants the EU to develop into a power that could “balance” USA, and sure I would love the EU to grow and to have a common foreign- and security policy but there is no need for them to “balance” USA, they should work together. To promote democracy, personal freedom and human rights is by far the most important thing in international politics. All democracies should join this struggle by the way. There do not always have to be military campaigns, that should be (and are) exceptions.

People should think more about the alternatives to today’s situation than complaining about the USA. The alternatives are really pretty scaring, eh?

And about the oil… how much oil is there in Kosovo, Vietnam, Korea or Germany? I do however agree that they probably have a reason other than just promoting democracy for the sake of it itself. They have come to realise that a democratic world serves them better, and then what is the problem? A world order dominated by China would surely come to other conclusions. For me and most other people democracy has a value in itself but if (I say if) America promotes democracy only because they know it is good for business (in the long run) and for their security then I am happy with the situation. There are no bad reasons for promoting democracy.

Everything is not good though, that goes without saying. It is hard to get credibility in the struggle for liberty when you support regimes like Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. They have to stop doing that and I think it will happen.

Someone said Guantanamo? That is also a big mistake from the Bush administration. It is unacceptable that they violate the principles they claim to defend. These people should definitely have the right to a fair trial. Nevertheless, the anti-Americanism is stupid and dangerous. (By the way, when following the debate one can get the impression that most prisoners on Cuba are under American custody. Nothing can be more wrong. They are only a tiny fraction of the political prisoners in Communist Cuba. That is no excuse, but rather interesting when you here the Swedish “not-so-reformed-communists” crying out about how terrible USA acts, and the minute after defending Fidel Castro. How about THEIR credibility??)

Again, people how spend large parts of their time telling the rest of us how bad the USA is, should really present a realistic alternative that seems better for people who believe in democracy and human rights. It is going to be interesting.

And last. The political anti-Americanism is one thing. But the cultural one? In one way it is logical that people are getting negative towards a dominating culture, but then do not listen to their music, do not eat their food, wear their clothes or see their movies. It is that simple. This “cultural imperialism” is, actually, voluntarily.