We have about 20% of the worlds gross production, and maybe 30 to 40% of the world's military power.
I don't know how you'd measure military power, exactly, but if it's related to spending then the numbers quoted from Bush's last spending bid would mean the US is paying more for its military than the next 15 military powers... combined.
Of course, it depends how that money is being spent - I believe other countries still have more soldiers, for example, rather than the expensive high-tech stuff - but I'd say this argues fairly overwhelming dominance. Maybe the technology is even making this dominance stronger.
The problem with using it is that US citizens, being among the richest people on the planet, would also have the most to lose in the event of war...
On the inspection issue... what currently separates the stances of Iraq and Israel? The latter has a more aggressive government, is conducting its own little atrocities against minorities within its borders, sends out death squads, and definitely has WMD... oh, and is refusing inspection.
Iraq was a US (and Western) ally only 15 years ago, too.
Democracy alone doth not an angel make. |
