God I hate to sound like I'm politicizing this(which is NOT my intention...) but for some time now many people around the world, allies of America, and foes alike, have been blaming our "policies" for the events of 9/11. I now question that ideology. As attacks such as these increase in frequency ALL AROUND the world, one has to wonder if they really are in response to America, or western civilization as a whole. I almost wish it WAS a burden America had to bear solely on it's shoulders. I revile the loss of ANY human life, American or other, at the hands of cowardly murders. I pray further attacks, be it on civilians in Bali ,French oiltankers in MiddleEastern ports, or a yet unknown target elsewhere in the world can be averted. Until now the U.S. has been acting in a unilateral fashion, much to the chagrin of most, if not all, nations. I also pray it will not take thousands of lives of other nations citizens to be a wake-up call against the threat posed by a growing violent fundamentalist group. My heart goes out to everyone around the world who has been impacted in countless ways but the events of not only the last year, but the last 30 years. Make no mistake about it, we may not be protecting our "way of life", but we will all be in constant defense of the lives of our loved ones and of ourselves for the rest of our days...*steps down from his soapbox*