'Land of the Free' does echo and sound just a bit hollow at the moment.

Seriously, for a moment, it really IS how many countries of the world view the USA now, it is a tragedy, because there has been so much good from the States, however self-serving, over the years.

Now, most overtures etc are treated with deep cynicism and disdain.

Well done the State Department/Oval Office - we had the liar Blair and you guys voted Dubya in. We perhaps deserve what we got for our levels of well-meaning naivety.