Well, yes, Ake, but he honestly believes that the War on Anti-terrorism is a legitimate defence of the USA against evil foreign religious fanatics, and he probably honestly believes also that the USA went into Iraq to "help the people" and to "create democracy". (Ha! Ha! Gasp! Snort! Cough!)

So, given those beliefs, Doug's opinions seem entirely just and proper to Doug. Therefore, he can still be a nice guy.

The hypocrisy of the right is different from that of the left. The left hides behind illusions of soft moral superiority ("we're kinder and more idealistic than they are"), while the right hides behind illusions of hard moral superiority ("we're tougher and more realistic than they are"). Both illusions cover over extreme vanity and self-interest in action.

The left is the archetype of the Protective and Indulgent (yet subtly controlling) Great Mother, the right is the archetype of the Strong, Authoritative (outwardly controlling), Disciplinarian Father. What society needs is a harmonious, healthy, and balanced marriage of those two principles, which is based on mutual respect and cooperation....not mutual hatred and competition.