The theory of government does not always match the realities of the exercise of power. America's leaders today are fond of reminding us all – American and foreign citizens alike – that the United States is the world's greatest democracy. By "greatest," of course, they mean most democratic, and not most powerful, in the sense of strongest – economically, diplomatically, or militarily. No other country in the world is supremely dedicated to the principles of freedom and justice for all. No other nation accords such importance to the idea of human rights; to basic human dignity, equality, and liberty of conscience. Over and over again, we are told that, as Americans, we enjoy the protections of the most benign and most benevolent system of government ever devised. Our political system is the best. Our judicial system the fairest. Our economic system the one that provides the greatest advantage to the greatest number of people. Ours is a land especially favored by Providence, the envy of all humankind. Quite naturally then, anyone who disagrees with us is... well... evil. Yet there is much that seems to contradict these rosy assumptions about the United States and its government. In the past five and a half years, especially, we have seen our leaders trample on the rights of others, of foreigners and Americans. We have watched as our country has invaded another country for reasons of "self preservation," defending three hundred million Americans from the non-existent threat posed by non-existent "weapons of mass destruction." The American government has claimed that "evil-doers" vilify and attack us for no reason at all, except that they are evil – enemies of our "values," would-be tyrants and religious zealots. The chief executive of our national government, George W. Bush, President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief, declared that...