The Israelis Have A Lot Of Influence

In The Long Run, Global Politics Are Bound To Become Increasingly Uncongenial To The Concentration Of Hegemonic Power In The Hands Of A Single State. Hence, America Is Not Only The First, As Well As The Only, Truly Global Superpower, But It Is Also Likely To Be The Very Last.

The Israelis Have Taken A Lot Of Security Measures Which Reduce Significantly The Ability Of Iran To Inflict Truly Severe Pain In Israel. But America Is Vulnerable With 100,000 Troops In Iraq And More Than Half Of That In Afghanistan, And We Depend Heavily On Access To Middle Eastern Oil. We're Sitting Targets For Debilitating Iranian Retaliation.

The American People Have To Think Hard About Their Definition Of The Meaning Of The Good Life, That Hedonistic, Materialistic Society Of High Levels Of Consumption, Increasing Social Inequality Is Not A Society That Can Be Part Of The Solution Of The World's Problems.

I Think President George W. Bush Contributed Very Directly To The Fact That The Status Of America As The World's Only Superpower Lasted For 20 Years At Most.

Never Before Has A Populist Democracy Attained International Supremacy. But The Pursuit Of Power Is Not A Goal That Commands Popular Passion, Except In Conditions Of A Sudden Threat Or Challenge To The Public's Sense Of Domestic Well-being. The Economic Self-denial (that Is, Defense Spending) And The Human Sacrifice (casualties, Even Among Professional Soldiers) Required In The Effort Are Uncongenial To Democratic Instincts. Democracy Is Inimical To Imperial Mobilization.