Instead I found a country very different from the one I visited just after 9/11.This was a terrible event that, amongst other things, highlighted how exposed America had become in the absence of traditional battle lines. The compulsion to retaliate was high and with the largest most advanced military force in the world, there was little appetite to debate the issues with countries who had no stomach for lengthy negotiation. When determining foreign policy, power is split into four principal components, The White House, The State Department, The Pentagon and Congress. Talk, across the board, was of action and not diplomacy. American flags flew from every building and bridge, as a country, united behind its President, began its war on terrorism.

Today the huge display of patriotism is as evident as before and Iraq, not Afghanistan dominates the headlines. The debate on whether the war with Iraq was justified is overshadowed by the debate on how to bring the US troops home safely and how involved America should be in future conflicts.

At both the State Department and the Pentagon there was a greater appreciation of the role allies can play and an understanding that simply carrying a big stick can achieve only so much. Fuelled by the build up towards the November elections, the fundamental question of America's role in international affairs seems also to be under review. Both the Democrat and Republican parties advocate a more pragmatic and inclusive approach to foreign policy with less reliance on American military capability. The police and military presence on every street corner is a constant reminder that the threat of terrorism is still there - even the most powerful nation in the world has had to adapt to a more restrictive way of life with security checks and alerts a daily occurence. Almost three years after 9/11 people are asking 'Why do some countries hate us so much?' To answer this question Americans need to re-evaluate their own opinions of themselves and what others think of them.

My visit coincided with 'WWII Memorial Day' marking America's contribution to the war and especially the Normandy landings. America undeniably made a critical contribution, yet few Americans I spoke to, were aware that D-Day was a British led operation, (a perception not helped by the film 'Saving Private Ryan'). 73,000 US troops joined 83,000 British and Canadian troops under General Montgomery's command.

It is easy to see how a super-power thinks it's the best, economically and militarily it is in a league of its own. But the confidence this brings has resulted in the contributions other countries have made (or can make) being overlooked. Today Al-Qaida and Iraq have left America bruised, isolated and unappreciated. Why should America deal with the world's problems if it is then criticised by its allies and attacked by its adversaries? Unless a multi national approach to dealing with today's threats can be established, there is growing support for America to adopt a very isolationist attitude towards foreign policy. One approach could involve the United Nations.

At present, Americans have a low opinion of the UN. They see it as a talking shop, corrupt and removed from reality, where, despite contributing over quarter of the entire budget, the US has the same influence as Djibouti who contribute around 1000 times less. Yet many countries rely on the UN as the bastion of international democracy, and take issue, on principle, to any country occupying another without consent from a higher authority.

The UN was originally formed to deal with a different kind of global threat. A radical overhaul of its objectives, functions and authority is well overdue in view of this new threat presented by international terrorism. Britain, strategically placed between the US, Europe and Commonwealth countries is in a pivotal position to instigate this.

I went to America expecting to find a country frustrated with the rest of world who dare to challenge its approach to dealing with international terrorism. Instead I found a country coming to terms with its own international identity but at a crossroads about what to do next.

During my visit, much emphasis was placed on London's 'special relationship' with Washington; as America seeks to re-define its foreign policy, Britain should take the lead role in helping re-define the United Nations.