The Tarnished Image of the United States of America

The United States of America has never really been a highly praised nation in many parts of the world, such as the Middle East. Since the beginning of the "War on Terror", this disgust for the U.S. in these sorts of areas has only increased. Why is this? Where has the United States gone wrong in its War on Terror, which started in response to the terrorist attack on 9/11? The Bush administration's approach to the "War on Terror"-namely the war in Iraq-has tarnished the global image of the United States of America and increased ill-will towards the country from the people in the Middle East.

The United State's global-image is a complicated one. As previously stated it has not always brought to mind pleasant thoughts for many individuals around the world. For others it has. As one of the only remaining super powers in the world, the United States has a duty to help other nations that are in need, whether it be humanitarian, militarily, or otherwise. But President George Bush and the current administration is seriously close to tarnishing the "helping hand" view of the United States that many countries still have.

By leaving Afghanistan, President Bush and his administration took on the War on Terror to an entirely different level. The United States military is no longer going after small bands of war lords terrorizing its people and/or harboring terrorists. The United States of America would start something with much more consequences than ever imagined when it over-stepped international laws and warnings set forth by the United Nations. When the United States. invaded the country of Iraq and brought down the regime of Saddam Hussein, the War on Terror became much more complicated than anyone ever thought it would be. "There is no single picture in Iraq - no single term can do justice to the complexity of what's going on there."[1] Not only did this kick start a very complicated situation for Iraq, it's civilians, it's government, and its bordering nations; but it also began an unpopular war in the United States and much of Europe.