Dear friends & family at home:
 
I feel a little funny writing to you about this election, since the way a person votes is 
such a personal decision.  But I felt that maybe I could give you something for your 
consideration that I assume most of your friends, and certainly the US media, are unable 
to give you: an accurate picture of the view from across the pond in Europe.  And I felt 
that maybe if I did share my knowledge with you, it would encourage you to get out there 
and vote tomorrow.
 
I think all of you know me as a patriot, and a person who is willing to back up his love of 
country with personal effort and action.  I start with this statement because I would like to 
qualify the information I am about to give you, to assure you that I have never "gone local" 
(even politically) in my years of living in various countries.
 
In all of my time spent outside the US, I have never, ever seen anti-Americanism reach 
such a level, so pervasive and virulent.  Don't get me wrong -- there was always a slight 
undertone of resentment in Europe for certain policies of the United States before the Bush 
Administration came to power.  But that was normal, given our position as the "leader of 
the free world" and given our economic power.  And the chafing was generally subdued, 
not really mainstream, and there was always a majority of Europeans in the room ready to 
stand up and defend US policy or culture from any unreasonable or ignorant attack by a compatriot.
 
But times have changed, and the level of anti-Americanism in Europe has surged massively 
(even in England, Poland, Italy and the other coalition partners) since the Bush Administration 
came to power.  Many Europeans are beginning to think of the US as a menace on the international 
stage (as are a majority of our non-European allies), as an unpredictable and unscrupulous 
meddler in the affairs of other countries.  Yet only three and a half years ago, the vast majority of 
Europeans used to think of the US as a beneficial actor on the world scene.  And on and after 
September 11th, we had their unconditional support and sympathy.
 
The Europeans are starting to believe that we are not only armed to the teeth, we are ready and 
willing to use our military power in an irresponsible fashion.  In 2000, they thought of us as the 
guarantor of their security, and the obvious choice for helping to stabilize the more troubled regions 
of the world.
 
The other free market democracies are now starting to think about and openly discuss ways to 
"balance" or "counter" US influence in the world.  Under our last President, the Europeans were 
proud to be our allies and felt that our interests were the same.  They looked up to us and saw 
the United States as a leader.  No longer.
 
The US international brand-image is quickly moving towards one much the same as that of the 
Soviet Union before Gorbachev came along.  This is not a joke -- I see and hear examples of it 
every day.  I cannot tell you how distressed I am by the unprecedented levels of contempt for 
America here.  But I can tell you where it comes from.  
 
It comes from the Bush administration's summary dismissal of offers of help from our NATO 
allies in Afghanistan.  

It comes from the administration's summary abandonment of international treaties already signed 
by the US, and from its shunning of other proposed international treaties.

It comes from the use of coercive language such as "with us or against us" and divide-and-conquer 
language such as "old Europe" and "new Europe".

It comes from the universally held belief here that the US government deliberately lied to its people, 
its friends and allies and to the UN about its reasons for the war in Iraq.  

It comes from the US' glorification of the UN (and other international organizations such as the WTO) 
when its opinion suits US needs, and its self-righteous condemnation of them when their position is not convenient.
  
It comes from the fact that the US did not bother to try to consult with its strategic partners before going into Iraq.  

It comes from the fact that they believe that the peace in Iraq has been bungled, that the War on Terror 
is not advancing and the world security situation is deteriorating.  

It comes from hypocritical behavior in certain areas of international trade such as Bush's illegal 
(by WTO rules that we wrote) support for the steel industry.  

And it comes from the fact that they see America's democracy and freedom being undermined by its own government. 
 
And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

 
International polls consistently show that 80+% of the rest of the world wants Bush gone.  I can't say 
I blame them, on balance.  The official Belgian number is 70%.  There are some exceptions, though.  
Apparently, the Bush administration is somewhat popular in Russia, Iran and Israel (which speaks volumes about it).  
 
I think that these trends are reversible.  I think the world, and particularly the Europeans, will forgive us once.  
They can say, "Well the American people never really elected Bush; he was appointed by the Supreme Court.  
It's not America's fault."  But if we do it again, if we have Bush as our President for a second term, I think it 
will confirm the world's worst fears about us.
 
So if world leadership -- which this President is always talking about -- means anything to you, if you want it
 to be more than an empty phrase, get out there tomorrow and vote for Kerry and a Democratic Congress, whether 
you are in a swing state or not.  It's about the mandate as well.  Or if you are a Republican and can't bring yourself 
to vote Democratic, then just stay home.  
 
Either way, if Bush wins again, you can kiss the concept of American world leadership, such as it was, goodbye.
 
Regards,
 
--kp.