I take it that no offence would be caused by anyone talking about third-rate states in the USA?

When I read posts like the last I get a suspicion it's someone who hates the USA trying to stir up antagonism against it.

It wasn't just Americans who were killed on September 11th. It won't just be Americans who'll be killed in the new war against those who weren't reponsible for September 11 but who fall into Bush's elastic definition of outlaw states.