[Southack]

Clinton's central thesis that American world pre-eminence is a "new phenomenon" is conclusively flawed, unless one considers the previous 140 years to be "new".

And that "man" got to be President of this great land. Sheesh, never underestimate the power of the American media to sway the masses with lies and propaganda...

[gusopol3]

I heard this line, "U.S. is past its prime," beginning in college in mid-70's. Who was the author 15 years ago who had Japan ascending to the gold-medal spot on the cover of his book: Rise and Fall of the Great Powers? Appreciated your perspective on U.S. power vis-a vis Europe from 1860's onward. Recently read an excerpt of a biography of C.S. Lewis, who, while hunkering down in a trench in France, as a 19 year old, in 1917, looked forward with great anticipation to the arrival of the Americans that he saw as the only alternative to death in the trench. Clinton is wishful-thinking along the lines of his sovereignty-surrendering pal, Strobe Talbot.