Anti-Americanism and Anti-Semitism

andy sullivan links to an amazing article about anti americanism in the central asian republics right here, describing an american professors experience in that area. here's is the money shot:
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As I made my way back to the hotel, I was struck by the odd parallel between that conundrum and my nation's: Even if the United States became everyone's paragon of virtue -- a twisted tango, given the vagueness and endless mutations of virtue's definition -- how much really would change? Would the Russian press or Iranian television share that good news with people who have no means to change the channel?
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exactly.

if you read the article however, it doesn't simply have ramifications for that part of the world. it reveals clearly the problem of anti americanism everywhere: there is a lack of critical thinking on the part of the bigots who spew it. does it matter that the US did not lose in afghanistan or not? or that they didn't induce a massive humanitarian disaster? no, because they anti american groupies had already moved on to the next perceived problem.

its simple scapegoating without historical or factual relevance or memory. the context of american actions isn't relevant. the context of the cold war doesn't matter.