Success via limited action
Weather you agree or disagree with the war in Iraq, there are some things that even the presidents opponents have to admit that president Bush is having wide poltical success in the world. So far America has gone into two nations - Afganistan and Iraq. In one nation, Afganistan there is a freely elected government, that has a large degree of independence and is working with colliation forces to rout out terrorist. In Iraq you have a election that went better then most expected, and a government / society that though still violent is moving toward independence and freedom. This will be a long road, it took over 12 year for Japen after WWII, but it can and will occur.
Out side of these two nations you have Russian states long controled by Communism are moving toward freedom, some even electing free and independent governments. Libia gave up their nuclear weapons without a shot. Iran and Saudi Arbia are feeling internal national pressure to change.
The formly non commital UN and EU are now beginning to see the success that America has had and wants to be part of it. They are willing to commit to help train security forces and aid in reconstruction. The fact that there is billions of dollars in contracts and potential new deals for energy in most of these nations is helpful, but they basic truth is that the world loves winners and when you are winning friends find you.
There are still problems though, and there are large. The Chinesse are a force to be reckoned with. China is gets support, weapons, aid and help from the EU. This, added to the technology they gain from the US over the last decade, has made them a extremely strong and allowed their economy and nation to expand rapidly. The Chinnese have a large econony and money will always find a market. Their army is huge, and growing, as fast as their economy. The good news is some economic freedoms and personal liberites are expanding as well. Even with these changes, China is still a communist nation with huge civil rights issues, many toward Christians and other religous groups, and their track record of keeping their end of deals is not good.
North Korea is by far the most dangerous nation in the world. They have nuclear weapons, they will use them, and they are developing better delivery system by the day. They get their technology and weapons from China and until China puts pressure on them there will be no changes.
The hope would be that America, with a president that has shown himself willing to commit forces and use them, will make other nations change their policies with no more invasions and attacks. The purpose of having military force is to make it where you do not have use it and nations will act in ways to improve the lives of their citizens and be could international citizens where their neighbors can focus on internal situations and policies and not on their external forces.
