What does your (and the GP's) definition of "competent" mean, "imperialistic"?  Were the native Americans less <i>competent</i> because they weren't always trying to expand and conquer?  Looking at today's rat race, I don't think it's conclusive that we did a better job than they would have.  Sure, it seems likely that we ended up with better medicine than they would have had by now, but the rest of it?<p>"I should probably mention that much of the reasoning behind the Bush invasion of Iraq was along these lines."<p>This statement seems extraordinarily naive to me.  What is it based on?