Rising powers have the US in their sights

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IH22Ak01.html


With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States stood tall - militarily invincible, economically unrivaled, diplomatically uncontestable. and the dominating force on information channels worldwide. The next century was to be the true "American century", with the rest of the world molding itself in the image of the sole superpower.

Yet with not even a decade of this century behind us, we are already witnessing the rise of a multipolar world in which new powers are challenging different aspects of US supremacy - Russia and China in the forefront, with regional powers Venezuela and Iran forming the second rank. These emergent powers are primed to erode US hegemony, not confront it, singly or jointly.

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When viewed globally and in the great stretch of history, the notion of US exceptionalism that drove the neo-conservatives to proclaim the Project for the New American Century in the late 20th century - adopted so wholeheartedly by the Bush administration in this one - is nothing new. Other superpowers have been there before, and they too have witnessed the loss of their prime position to rising powers.
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if Russia and China want to take down the bushmilhousegang neo cons, it's alright with me. I'll help. and then all of us can get to work saving the planet and thus our lives. and we all can have a drink of water.

Nukes, there won't be anything left (or anyone left) to rebuild this country. We all know that both Bush and Cheney have no qualms about using these Nukes.

ww

for sure.

??

move by any president, ever. What in the fuck is this idiot thinking. Of all the incredibly stupid things this administration has done, this must be the dumbest.
What a legacy this clown has left. It will take fifty years of common sense to get us back to where we should be now.

and the plan is bringing about the third-worldization of the formerly great U.S. of A. and turning it over to corporate control and ownership. The complete destruction of the economy is merely step one. Then comes the fire sale of our nation's assets.

He's a smashing success if you look at what the true motives of Bushco are. Getting anything back after he's done will be a tall order.

makes me wish yet again I didn't have to live here.

<snip>

No superpower in modern times has maintained its supremacy for more than several generations. And however exceptional its leaders may have thought themselves, the United States, already clearly past its zenith, has no chance of becoming an exception to this age-old pattern of history.

The trouble with NeoCons' and Bushites' notions of "US exceptionalism" is that they have no idea what made this country great, and what the American people want and what they are capable of. They are therefore unable to duplicate it, in Iraq for instance. They have no understanding of, and no respect for, the principles of democracy, upward mobility, a loyal, hard-working, productive labor force, common ground among the classes and types of people, our common inheritance of democratic rights and civic duties, fair trade (unweighted toward the wealthy and powerful) which fosters creativity and ingenuity, our common beliefs in public oversight and government accountability, and, above all, the necessity of a strong middle class, and narrowed divide between rich and poor, as the solid foundation of prosperity for all. These are the elements that contributed to America's reputation in the world. And they are the necessary elements, also, of a strong and efficient military, good emergency services, and smart, well-trained people--people into good government and the rule of law, and fairness and tolerance--throughout the society, in business, in government, in education, everywhere.


They haven't a clue how to build a good society. They only know how to rip one off.