Whose job is it to police the world? Is it the United States?, the United Nations? or should everyone settle their differences between themselves? After Sept. 11, many raised the issue that the United States had become increasingly isolationist in the years leading up to 2001.

This is not quite accurate. The U.S. military and government have been trotting the globe, protecting American interests. The people of the United States, however, could not have cared less.

Disagree? How many people watched CNN before the attacks? How many watched it after?

One would think Americans are self-absorbed and only interested in world events when they are directly effected by them. They would be right. But that does not mean that we are bad people for doing it. Think back to when the economy was great.

Everyone was driving SUVs. One didn?t hesitate to Biggie Size their fries. Gas was four bucks a gallon but no one cared because most Americans were dripping with cash because they decided to become investors in the bullish stock market.

Kurds were dying, Bosnia was, and still is, a mess; and how many of us were watching CNN to find out how everything in the outside world was going along?

Things were good and we were happy. Then planes start dropping out of the sky in our own country, and we can?t wait to be informed. Once again, this did not make us bad people; terrorist attacks have been known to pique the interest of the public.

What is a mistake is how we are becoming sick of the subject of foreign policy already. We are becoming bored; we don?t care as much any more.

How about if we have another terrorist attack on American soil, which, by the way, is extremely possible. Will Americans become concerned with foreign policy again?

Let?s face facts, the United States does police the world. Why? Because we are the strongest, no other reason. If France had a military that could shake the ground like ours can, then France would have to police the world. England did it for 300 some odd years and now it is our turn.

Several Americans have a problem with this. They feel that we cannot intervene in the affairs of other countries because it is not our place. Which naturally raises the question, if we don?t help the people who need it, then who will?

Since it is now obvious that we have to be involved in world affairs, the one way Americans can be sure that we are helping the world, and not merely ourselves, is to stay informed.

By paying attention to what our government is doing, we can be sure they are doing the right things. Even though Wolf Blitzer is goofy looking, Dan Rather is nuts and Ted Koppel has the charisma of a rock, they are still the best way for us to stay abreast of world events.

If the people of this nation keep track of the world and of what their government is doing, then maybe the United States won?t involve itself in huge foreign policy disasters (hint: Iran Contra).

Brussels sprouts may taste like crap, but they are good for you. Keeping aware of world issues may not be fun, but it is good for the country.

So I would like to suggest that along with standing during the Star Spangled Banner and rooting for the United States in the Olympics, being a good American includes keeping tabs on what the government is doing.

Should we be the policemen of the world?

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