Good article. However, no one is stating the other obvious effect of the New Empire: it is playing right into bin Laden's plans.
His goal on 9/11 was not to defeat the US, but to goad us into reckless acts that would turn more nations and peoples against us. He figured that we would respond hastily and harshly, and drive more people into his own lap.
That did not happen, and I was proud of the President at that time. No hasty bombings, clumsy moves, heavy handed attacks. But, somewhere along the way, we squandered the short term goodwill that others had towards a newly vulnerable United States.
The other goal of bin Laden was to supposedly expose the 'example' of Democracy. He thought that, under pressure, we would fold up our ideals of freedom and show the world that we really weren't that good of an example. This is the other area where I think bin Laden is in danger of winning.
International power is an equilibrium. If we exert too much unopposable power, the rest of the world will seek to oppose that power and balance the equilibrium. We can control that equilibrium, or we can be controlled by it. It is our choice. |
