How appropriate it is that America bashers should hold their rendezvous in the great country of Cuba. Nothing indeed could have revealed their true character better than their choice of venue.

The best way to gauge a country is to see how many people try to get in as opposed to how many try to get out. It is truly paradoxical that while the leaders of these governments convene to condemn the United States, scores of own their citizens try to immigrate here. Castro himself had to turn his island into a virtual prison to keep the populace from running off to Florida.

You can get a good idea of someone's character by the kind of enemies he has. To wit, there are three main types of America haters in the world today: Assorted dictators, Islamists and leftists. That they hate us shows that we are still doing things right. Even though George Bush may be faulted on many fronts, he is to be heartily congratulated on this one, since not even the great Ronald Reagan managed to rouse the world's malefactors for an America bashing orgy of the current magnitude.

This is a great time to be an American, and I am very proud to be one. As someone who grew up in a bad system that was relegated to the ash heap of history by the United States, I am convinced of this: America is the best place on this earth and truly the last best hope of man. Whenever the subjugated citizens of America's specious maligners feel the pangs despair, they can dream that one day they too may find a better life in the great land of the free. And to oppressed people everywhere this is no small consolation.

Vasko Kohlmayer   9 18 06