The End of American Supremacy

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/News/233102/the-end-of-american-supremacy/



We have entered a new era in world history, where America is in decline and its rivals triumph.

The End of American Supremacy
Newsweek Polska, Poland
By Maciej Nowicki
Translated By Matthew Matyjek
20 January 2014
Edited by Sean Feely

~snip~

When Chuck Hagel became the Secretary of Defense in February of 2013, he gave Obama a copy of Dwight Eisenhower’s biography. A military hero of World War II as a general, Eisenhower’s priorities drastically shifted during his presidency, and he sought to limit the possibility for further American bloodshed. From the end of the Korean War to 1961, not a single U.S. soldier died in combat. Obama has seemed to take a similar initiative and has retreated all over the world. America has stopped playing the role of the necessary superpower or the policeman of the world, depending on the viewpoint. The results of this policy are clearly visible.

According to American political expert Walter Russell Mead, 2013 was a transformative year in foreign politics. A coalition of regional powers — Russia, China and Iran — which for years has been trying to counteract the American imposed status quo after 1989 have taken up the initiative. These countries have gained the confidence in their abilities to fundamentally transform world politics.

~snip~

International sanctions have also crippled Iran to such an extent that the mullahs agreed in part to freeze their nuclear program. The Chinese government is worrying about a potential recession. However, in light of America’s retreat, these problems are not fatal to ambition. The calculus for now is simple: What the Americans lose, their enemies gain.

The Americans no longer want to be the guarantors of worldwide security. They have no geopolitical vision. They celebrated when Hosni Mubarak’s government collapsed but had no idea how to address what came next. They seemed to have some success in Libya, but have no idea how to handle Syria. Nothing is able to hold their interest for long. American-led coalitions on these kinds of issues are about as sound as a Las Vegas drive-thru wedding.