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Recently I think it comes down to the perception regarding how the U.S tends to deal with really any country it wants. The world knows the U.S can quash any country if they try hard enough including the US but beyond that there is something each country and culture thrives on and that is pride, integrity and respect and when it seems that the only superpower in the world runs short on those characteristics from time to time toward others, people tend to get a little pissed off.
The U.S virtually killed New Zealands livelyhood when they didn't partake in the first Gulf war. A friend of mine just came back and said 10 years later the economy is starting to turn around since trade ceased between the countries. George Bush, but more prominently US Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci has threatened several times that the US would shut down the Can/US border if Canada didn't comply completely with US demands. This would devestate millions of lives in Canada.
I think, or better put, I would like to believe the US has the best intentions regarding global affairs, but the "You're with us or against us" stigma is arrogant and disrespectful to the point that diplomancy has no place in world affairs unless the world is rightfully where it belongs, on its knees.
That in a nutshell is a very basic answer to the question.
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" In Canada, you can tell the most blatant lie in a calm voice, and people will believe you over someone who's a little passionate about the truth." David Warren, Western Standard.
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