{in the glory days following Mr Nice Guys victory in the gulf war}
peter snow interviewed the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff general colin powell for the BBCs newsnight:
snow began by asking:
>"do you now regard the United States as the worlds policeman?"
>the general, softly lit from behind, his ribbons marching down his chest, smiled sagely.
>"sir...what we provide is a presence. a stablising influence. you see, we have the power that people tend to trust."