Greatest Good?

I wanted to try something different with this post. I want to start a little discussion. It will probably be little because it might end being a discussion with myself. I was watching the Presidential debate the other night and noticed something that both candidates actually agreed upon. Both believe that the United States is the greatest force for good and peace in the world. Good and peace seemed to be interchangeable in the language that was used. I was in my nonviolent struggle course the other week when Jim Lawson said, "The #1 enemy of peace in the world is the United States." So where does the US actually sit on this spectrum? Obviously there will be some language issues. The terms are clearly comparative, and in the sense of judging a hierarchy of peace and its production might prove problematic; but the general idea can still be discussed.

So is the US the greatest force for peace, or the #1 enemy of peace?

I want to hear some thoughts before I post my own...

From out Defense Secretary

I thought this article was very interesting, in part because the Sec. of Defense admits the limitations of war and thankfully recognizes its inherent brutality. This was a speech given at the graduation of the National Defense University.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gates30-2008sep30,0,2382416.story