Gulliver unbound: can America rule the world?

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | August 6 2003 | By Josef Joffe

[mewzilla]

Josef Joffe, a contributing editor of Time magazine...

Says it all.

[TheBigB]

In short, the U.S. is a hyper-puissance

While France is a "hyper-pissant."

[mewzilla]

Never ceases to amaze me how people we could care less about always seem to think we want what they don't even have to start with. Rule the world? Why would we want it?

[dead]

Josef Joffe, a contributing editor of Time magazine...
Says it all.

This is an Australian article. I do not know the political leanings of their “Time” magazine. It’s probably liberal, but I don’t know for sure.

[mewzilla]

Last time I knew :), Time published worldwide. I think it's the same company, different editions for different markets.

[mewzilla]

Yup, just checked. Same rag, different drivel.

[PGalt]

If there was ever a blueprint for one world government...we have it...the Constitution. It could easily be projected into The United States of the World, or The United Individuals of the World. We are moving in that direction as more and more people understand the concept of freedom.

[dead]

Same company, but I don't think Americans read Joseph Joffe's writings. They must have different writers and editors, but you're probably right that the editorial slant is controlled by "on high" powers in the US.

[Restorer]

What we really want is for the world not to cause us problems.

But, as the author notes, this often requires us to be the final authority. Or things just get worse untile they represent a genuine threat.

The author also doesn't seem to recognize that a true technological leap may invalidate all assumptions. Although such a leap is unlikely to come from our real opponents such as Islamic militants.

[vbmoneyspender]

You know, I did a word search on the article and not once is either the word "freedom" or "liberty" mentioned in the article. What kind of twit writes an article like this about how America has become a dominant power and never mentions the principle idea upon which America was founded. An idea, mind you, which to this day continues to guide the political and philosophical beliefs of a good portion of the American population? I guess this guy must be a European.

[dead]

German, I believe.

I don't think "freedom" or "liberty" translate well into his native tongue.

[driftless]

We don't, and these leftist-leaning "experts" know it. It's just a reflexive anti-American stance they always take. They usually argue from a false basis ("France and Russia didn't want to prop up Hussein") which makes their ultimate conclusion invalid. They've never gotten over the fall of the Soviet Union as a "counterbalance". No country that respects the rule of law is in danger from us. We do however want and have to destroy our enemies, and we finally have a president who understands that.

[mewzilla]

What's in a name? It's still biased bilge on either side of the pond no matter whose is the byline. Problem is that I'm not sure that the Aussies or Europeans have a mass market alternative, at least mag-wise. 'Course, they may not want one.

[rrrod]

this is fascinating... a must read for all...

[TheBigB]

Beats me. I can only imagine a buncha smelly, monkey-lookin' French guys runnin' around the Chomps Eleezay with their thong panties in a bunch screaming, "The US wants to take over France!" Hey, if I want anything to do with stinky, snail-eating cowards, I'll go down to the next meeting of the Vanderbilt faculty.

[dead]

I thought it was a very good read as well, though I lean more towards "The Rumsfeld Strategy" than the author.

I think alot of people on this board just always assume that every foreign article is anti-American, so they don't bother to read it before commenting.

This was fairly balanced and insightful.

[dead]

Care to comment before reading? 8-)

[normy]

I would say this article has much truth in it. Listen America is the greatist place to live in the world, other countries are nice to visit, but we have it all. People are seduced by freedom, wealth, education, land, peace and aside from our problems all of these things can be found here.
I am reminded of a character in a movie who was from Scotland. He was talking to some Americans in a bar and said," you Americans have it all here, the other day at a resturant I ordered some toast. The waitress asked me 'Would you like white toast,wheat toast, rye toast,sourdough...' Toast man I just want some toast."

[rrrod]

yes i agree