Originally Posted by SteveZ

ANd "who we are" surely shouldn't be ones who bow and scrape to every $.10 despot who says he's offended because as his folk were beheading setting westerners ablaze, and then cheering around the headless and/or smoldering remains, we embarrassed a few chauvinists in front of women and made a few others wet their pants even when they were never in harm's way.

Foreign relations is all about parity and respect, not pandering and concessions. When you offer an inch to a despot, he takes the whole yardstick. Being respectful is one thing, but cowering down doesn't cut it at all - in public or in private.