As a country, is it better to be liked or to be feared?

If you cannot be "liked" "feared" will do the job.

Some people respond well to the USA kindness. Our civilized allies in Europe, even when they do not agree with us, at least know we are a good and decent people.

Some people need to fear us. The Taliban did not respect us enough to turn over Osama Bin Laden when Bill Clinton tried to get him. But, we are now feared by people that harbored terrorists. Think of the following equations.

Bomd 3 USA Buildings = USA takes two countries

Kill 3000 USA Citizens = USA destroyes the armies of two nations

Fear Works and has worked for the last 7 years.

Feared, that is the most powerful emotion.

It's better to be liked. To be feared means "someone will eventually take you out, cause they fear you".

Fear generates resentment/hatred.

Resentment/hatred generates aggression.

Aggression leads to attack.

Those who fear you, are AUTOMATICALLY your enemy.

An environment of fear is a world at war.

liked, that said I think your aim should not be to be liked it should be to do a good job. All I'm saying is don't go around being an ******. :)

respected, which means not worrying about being liked......

I'd rather be respected.