America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What?

[Balu]

On the motives of the US American Exceptionalim thread.America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What? The first step is to accept the fact that American power is limited and global rule is an impossible fantasy.

Michael T. Klare (http://www.thenation.com/authors/michael-t-klare)
May 28, 2015

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Take a look around the world and it’s hard not to conclude that the United States is a superpower in decline. Whether in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, aspiring powers are flexing their muscles, ignoring Washington’s dictates, or actively combating them. Russia refuses (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/two-russian-soldiers-captured-near-rebel-controlled-luhansk-says-ukraine) to curtail its support for armed separatists in Ukraine; China refuses (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/04/09/china-defends-land-reclamation-on-disputed-islands/25518961/) to abandon its base-building endeavors in the South China Sea; Saudi Arabia refuses (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-king-wont-attend-camp-david-meeting.html) to endorse the U.S.-brokered nuclear deal with Iran; the Islamic State movement (ISIS) refuses (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/18/isis-takeover-in-ramadi-a-worrisome-victory-in-the-propaganda-war) to capitulate in the face of U.S. airpower. What is a declining superpower supposed to do in the face of such defiance?
This is no small matter. For decades, being a superpower has been the defining characteristic of American identity. The embrace of global supremacy began after World War II when the United States assumed responsibility for resisting Soviet expansionism around the world; it persisted through the Cold War era and only grew after the implosion of the Soviet Union, when the U.S. assumed sole responsibility for combating a whole new array of international threats. As General Colin Powell famously exclaimed (http://harpers.org/archive/2002/10/dick-cheneys-song-of-america/2/) in the final days of the Soviet era, “We have to put a shingle outside our door saying, ‘Superpower Lives Here,’ no matter what the Soviets do, even if they evacuate from Eastern Europe.” ...

http://www.thenation.com/article/208585/americas-days-global-superpower-are-numbered-now-what#

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

On the motives of the US American Exceptionalim thread.America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What? The first step is to accept the fact that American power is limited and global rule is an impossible fantasy.

Michael T. Klare (http://www.thenation.com/authors/michael-t-klare)
May 28, 2015

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Take a look around the world and it’s hard not to conclude that the United States is a superpower in decline. Whether in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, aspiring powers are flexing their muscles, ignoring Washington’s dictates, or actively combating them. Russia refuses (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/two-russian-soldiers-captured-near-rebel-controlled-luhansk-says-ukraine) to curtail its support for armed separatists in Ukraine; China refuses (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/04/09/china-defends-land-reclamation-on-disputed-islands/25518961/) to abandon its base-building endeavors in the South China Sea; Saudi Arabia refuses (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-king-wont-attend-camp-david-meeting.html) to endorse the U.S.-brokered nuclear deal with Iran; the Islamic State movement (ISIS) refuses (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/18/isis-takeover-in-ramadi-a-worrisome-victory-in-the-propaganda-war) to capitulate in the face of U.S. airpower. What is a declining superpower supposed to do in the face of such defiance?
This is no small matter. For decades, being a superpower has been the defining characteristic of American identity. The embrace of global supremacy began after World War II when the United States assumed responsibility for resisting Soviet expansionism around the world; it persisted through the Cold War era and only grew after the implosion of the Soviet Union, when the U.S. assumed sole responsibility for combating a whole new array of international threats. As General Colin Powell famously exclaimed (http://harpers.org/archive/2002/10/dick-cheneys-song-of-america/2/) in the final days of the Soviet era, “We have to put a shingle outside our door saying, ‘Superpower Lives Here,’ no matter what the Soviets do, even if they evacuate from Eastern Europe.” ...

http://www.thenation.com/article/208585/americas-days-global-superpower-are-numbered-now-what#


Let me take a guess. You work for obama, right???--Tyr

[Balu]

Let me take a guess. You work for obama, right???--Tyr
Oh, no! I am a Russian pensioner, so I work for nobody. I am just enjoying the rest of my life. T
For your information the pension age in Russia is 60 y.o. for men and 55 y.o. for women. http://smayli.ru/data/smiles/ulibki-571.gif (http://pozdravitel.ru/smajliki/)

[Jeff]

Balu the American Government may be weak at this point, but remember one thing, if and when a war reaches our soil you will find the largest and meanest army in the world ( the American people ) Our Government will get back on track and we will and always will be a super power. Personally I wish we would just police our own unless we have no other choice but that isn't the way we have done things or I imagine will ever do things, but don't count Americans out.

I remember right after 9/11 happened we had pride, we had unity and yes push come to shove we will again. See Obama and folks like him keep churning up this BS about race and they are trying to get religion involved hoping that will keep the worlds largest army divided, but my friend, have no fear, when push comes to shove the world is going to see the Old America step right back up.

[aboutime]

Balu. You may be retired. But you should stick to drinking the vodka, and listening to Putin brainwash.

Propaganda is your game here. If you think none of us here in the USA are smart enough not to see what your main purpose in life is. You should contact the Owner of this Forum, and ask for your sales ticket for the bridge across the East River, in New York City. You can buy it for today only, at $1.00 U.S.

[Drummond]

Simple question, Balu: would you apply the very same proposition to Russia ?

If 'no', then on what objective basis would you place your country in a superior categorisation ?

Tell me. Do you have great faith in Putin's empire-building stratagems ?

[Drummond]

Oh, no! I am a Russian pensioner, so I work for nobody. I am just enjoying the rest of my life. T
For your information the pension age in Russia is 60 y.o. for men and 55 y.o. for women. http://smayli.ru/data/smiles/ulibki-571.gif (http://pozdravitel.ru/smajliki/)

In the UK, pension age varies according to the profession you're retiring from. It can be from age 55 in certain select areas. Though .. the State pension isn't paid until age 65 (subject to review, because of the cost in paying it out ..).

An example of earlier pension age (years of service assumes a particular importance) ..

http://www.sppa.gov.uk/Documents/Police/Police%20Useful%20Resources/Forms%20and%20Guides/Administrator/7.%20Police%20Pension%20Scheme%20Q%20and%20As%20%2 83%29%20%285%29.pdf

[DLT]

On the motives of the US American Exceptionalim thread.America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What? The first step is to accept the fact that American power is limited and global rule is an impossible fantasy.

Michael T. Klare (http://www.thenation.com/authors/michael-t-klare)
May 28, 2015

http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/main_node_view_image/soldier_america_flag_ap_img_3.jpg (http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/soldier_america_flag_ap_img_3.jpg)


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Take a look around the world and it’s hard not to conclude that the United States is a superpower in decline. Whether in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, aspiring powers are flexing their muscles, ignoring Washington’s dictates, or actively combating them. Russia refuses (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/two-russian-soldiers-captured-near-rebel-controlled-luhansk-says-ukraine) to curtail its support for armed separatists in Ukraine; China refuses (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/04/09/china-defends-land-reclamation-on-disputed-islands/25518961/) to abandon its base-building endeavors in the South China Sea; Saudi Arabia refuses (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-king-wont-attend-camp-david-meeting.html) to endorse the U.S.-brokered nuclear deal with Iran; the Islamic State movement (ISIS) refuses (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/18/isis-takeover-in-ramadi-a-worrisome-victory-in-the-propaganda-war) to capitulate in the face of U.S. airpower. What is a declining superpower supposed to do in the face of such defiance?
This is no small matter. For decades, being a superpower has been the defining characteristic of American identity. The embrace of global supremacy began after World War II when the United States assumed responsibility for resisting Soviet expansionism around the world; it persisted through the Cold War era and only grew after the implosion of the Soviet Union, when the U.S. assumed sole responsibility for combating a whole new array of international threats. As General Colin Powell famously exclaimed (http://harpers.org/archive/2002/10/dick-cheneys-song-of-america/2/) in the final days of the Soviet era, “We have to put a shingle outside our door saying, ‘Superpower Lives Here,’ no matter what the Soviets do, even if they evacuate from Eastern Europe.” ...

http://www.thenation.com/article/208585/americas-days-global-superpower-are-numbered-now-what#

Rule #1: Never EVER underestimate your opponent/enemy. Unless, of course, you're just as stuckonstupid as most American leftists are. :salute:

[fj1200]

America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What?

The first step is to accept the fact that American power is limited and global rule is an impossible fantasy.

Fallacy; you state opinion as fact. The US is the only country able to project power to any part of the globe and that isn't changing any time soon. Two more fallacies; power is always "limited" and we never "ruled" globally. But more to your question, any superpower projecting their influence is merely one of will and necessity IMO. We could do more but the will is lacking as well as the necessity to do so. If either of those change then that would be interesting now wouldn't it?

[Drummond]

Fallacy; you state opinion as fact. The US is the only country able to project power to any part of the globe and that isn't changing any time soon. Two more fallacies; power is always "limited" and we never "ruled" globally. But more to your question, any superpower projecting their influence is merely one of will and necessity IMO. We could do more but the will is lacking as well as the necessity to do so. If either of those change then that would be interesting now wouldn't it?

Interesting post - we have a measure of agreement for a change, FJ.

That said: I'd like clarification. You say:


But more to your question, any superpower projecting their influence is merely one of will and necessity IMO.

I'm not entirely sure if classifying Russia as a superpower, these days, is open to question. I'm quite sure that Balu wouldn't question it as outright truth ! But given that Russia DOES maintain superpower status ... taking your comment literally, are you intentionally saying that whatever Putin does, even if only in his part of the world, he does through NECESSITY ?

Because if 'YES', aren't you giving Putin a blanket approval for whatever he gets up to in the future ?

[Gunny]

On the motives of the US American Exceptionalim thread.

America’s Days as a Global Superpower Are Numbered. Now What?

The first step is to accept the fact that American power is limited and global rule is an impossible fantasy.

Michael T. Klare (http://www.thenation.com/authors/michael-t-klare)
May 28, 2015

http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/main_node_view_image/soldier_america_flag_ap_img_3.jpg (http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/soldier_america_flag_ap_img_3.jpg)


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This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com (http://www.tomdispatch.com/). To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com (https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:43308/acctId:25612).
Take a look around the world and it’s hard not to conclude that the United States is a superpower in decline. Whether in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East, aspiring powers are flexing their muscles, ignoring Washington’s dictates, or actively combating them. Russia refuses (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/18/two-russian-soldiers-captured-near-rebel-controlled-luhansk-says-ukraine) to curtail its support for armed separatists in Ukraine; China refuses (http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/04/09/china-defends-land-reclamation-on-disputed-islands/25518961/) to abandon its base-building endeavors in the South China Sea; Saudi Arabia refuses (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/11/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-king-wont-attend-camp-david-meeting.html) to endorse the U.S.-brokered nuclear deal with Iran; the Islamic State movement (ISIS) refuses (http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/18/isis-takeover-in-ramadi-a-worrisome-victory-in-the-propaganda-war) to capitulate in the face of U.S. airpower. What is a declining superpower supposed to do in the face of such defiance?
This is no small matter. For decades, being a superpower has been the defining characteristic of American identity. The embrace of global supremacy began after World War II when the United States assumed responsibility for resisting Soviet expansionism around the world; it persisted through the Cold War era and only grew after the implosion of the Soviet Union, when the U.S. assumed sole responsibility for combating a whole new array of international threats. As General Colin Powell famously exclaimed (http://harpers.org/archive/2002/10/dick-cheneys-song-of-america/2/) in the final days of the Soviet era, “We have to put a shingle outside our door saying, ‘Superpower Lives Here,’ no matter what the Soviets do, even if they evacuate from Eastern Europe.” ...

http://www.thenation.com/article/208585/americas-days-global-superpower-are-numbered-now-what#

Y'think?

Wait until we get rid of this president. Y'all shit takers are about right up there when Carter was in office.

Bring it. You ain't never met a United States Marine who isn't going to play your game. You're so full of sh*t the garbage man won't pick you up.

[fj1200]

:rolleyes:


Interesting post - we have a measure of agreement for a change, FJ.

That said: I'd like clarification. You say:

I'm not entirely sure if classifying Russia as a superpower, these days, is open to question. I'm quite sure that Balu wouldn't question it as outright truth ! But given that Russia DOES maintain superpower status ... taking your comment literally, are you intentionally saying that whatever Putin does, even if only in his part of the world, he does through NECESSITY ?

Because if 'YES', aren't you giving Putin a blanket approval for whatever he gets up to in the future ?

I didn't see Russia as the focus of the article and I was making no comment on Russia nor Putin. Russia is far from a superpower.