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I remember the first time I heard that Osama bin Laden had made such a claim. Nothing but bluster? Bravado? Hyperbole? That certainly was my initial reaction to such a claim. I mean, it was not even two years since the United States had been its strongest: economically, militarily, morally, diplomatically. The entire world had rallied to our side, mourning along with us as though we were all Americans. Destroy America?!? Surely you jest!
Now it's more than four years later. Our economy is essentially doing a jig suspended by a string like a marionette, and the Chinese are calling the tune. Our armed forces are committed intractably in Iraq, and a promissory note has been written for more American blood to be invested in Iran. The every word of our "leader" is doubted by the entire world the moment it is spoken, and our proclamations and protestations regarding democracy, justice, and liberty in other parts of the world are dismissed as laughable on their face. We have only nominal, tenuous support from those whom we used to regard as our allies, and the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" shrinks with each passing moment.
We have invaded one Bad Guy who was not involved in our national tragedy, only to essentially create a power vacuum in which those who were involved may now be better trained to strike us again. How many will pity us like they did on September 12, 2001 should we be assaulted now?
The latest from bin Laden (if it turns out to be real) serves only to highlight how successful he has been in making the "fantasy" of destroying America a reality. Our own President has undermined our civil liberties and subverted the Constitution which he has twice taken an oath to protect and defend, and all in an ostensible effort to protect us from the scourge of terrorism. With the Constitution no longer functioning and our civil liberties no longer guaranteed by a Government of, by, and for the People, with our economic future vulnerable to any punitive move by China, the EU, OPEC and others beyond our control, and with few friends to stand by us as we try to intimidate the rest of the world from our position of weakness, what chance do we stand?
It seems bin Laden had counted all along on what we (I) couldn't have foreseen. He has all but won because George W. Bush has done everything he could to back us into a corner besides officially forfeiting the game. I wouldn't have thought it possible just a few short years ago, but then again, isn't that what the Romans said when the Visigoths came marching over the Seven Hills?
The United States has very little chance of restoring its Superpower status. Perhaps the best we can hope for is to recover our old status as a quiet, isolated Republic constituted by an informed and involved citizenry, with little or no interest or ambition regarding anything beyond our borders. A sea change is coming at the end of Empire. Let's hope we can retain a shred of the soul of what we once were.
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