In economic terms, the US has actually been in decline relative to the
rest of the world since it accounted for half the world's output after
the second world war. In the past few years its share has bounced back to
nearly 30% on some measures, partly because of the Soviet implosion and
Japanese stagnation, and partly because of America's own long boom. But
in the medium term, the strain of military overstretch is likely to make
itself felt. More immediately, the US could face regional challenges,
perhaps from China or Russia, which it would surely balk at pushing to
military conflict. Then there is the likelihood of social eruptions in
client states like Saudi Arabia which no amount of military technology
will be able to see off. America's greatest defeat was, it should not be
forgotten, inflicted by a peasant army in Vietnam. US room for manoeuvre
may well prove more limited than might appear'
( Seumas Milne via Guardian )
See also this Robert Kuttner article
See also "assassination politics"by Jim Bell.
