Actually you're right, there may well be parts of the US where high-speed rail makes sense. On a project-by-project basis it's certainly an option worth considering.

What I take issue with is the idea that because other countries have it that the US needs it too. That's a silly argument. Other countries have medieval castles, ubiquitous bidets and abundant kangaroos, but the US doesn't need those either.

(And in fact, only four countries in the world have a high-speed rail network worth a damn -- that's France, Germany, Japan and China).