Dick Locke wrote:

On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 09:24:14 -0400, Stephen Harding
wrote:


Until then, its an internal matter
for the US to decide. Tough luck for you.


That's kind of a good 19th century attitude...I think it's not really
valid anymore in our interconnected world where one country's policies
affect many other countries.

Until the vote is given out to non-citizens of a country,
it most certainly is an internal matter.

Not to say there can't be external ramifications over
those decisions, but its all part of the decision process
within the country at issue. And it is most especially
true when that issue is one of national security.

Whether 19th century or 21st, it is a fact that different
nations have different national interests. There is no
one policy size that fits all. Representative government
means just that; *my* Senator or Congressman should reflect
*my* concerns, not the citizens of France. If he does,
then he pays the political price for not doing what *I*
want him to do.


SMH