A nation is judge by its Prowess versus Conduct, rather than just its Conduct.

The US is perceived by many as an international bully, a modern day imperial power. At this critical moment in history, Washington correspondent Justin Webb challenges that idea ... ...

"A pattern was emerging and has never seriously been altered. A pattern of willingness to condemn America for the tiniest indiscretion - or to magnify those indiscretions - while leaving the murderers, dictators, and thieves who run other nations oddly untouched." -- Washington correspondent Justin Webb comments citing the example of what his mom thought of Americahttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6547881.stm

I do not think I would agree with Justin. This argument stands at face value, but not when considering the effects of American prowess. I do not think his mom cites American as an outlaw has anything to do with whether America stood out as the worst of all 'murderers, dictators, and thieves.' Rather, it has to do with the proportion of Prowess versus Conduct. While there are worse 'murderers, dictators, and thieves,' they also have less prowess to influence the world. Many large countries can easily crash these rouges if they in fact act indiscriminately. An example is Afghanistan. However, America prowess if beyond any single nation to control. Its bad conduct in the recent years is certainly unsettling.