We have met the enemy, and he is us

The heart of it: “Our goal in at least one of our Middle East wars is to rebuild a government in our own image — with democracy for all. Instead, we are rebuilding ourselves in the image of those who detest us.” What must the Iraqi and Afghan civilians, whose hearts and minds our troops are trying to win, be making of this? How much harder—maybe impossible—is this making the job of our troops on the ground?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/real-americans-please-stand-up/