We are in danger of losing something much more important than just the war in Iraq. We are in danger of losing America as an instrument of moral authority and inspiration in the world. I have never known a time in my life when America and its president were more hated around the world than today.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman is a very smart guy. I don’t always agree with him, but I’ve followed him long enough to realize that he’s right more often than I am. When he says something like this, I start to worry.