My main critique of the "America in Decline" talk is this: Seven years ago, America was spitting out 4% growth per year.  The poverty rate was falling.  The bubble popped, but the damage was, on the whole, quite minor.  (As I've pointed out, time after time, America never technically suffered a recession.)  Now, seven years later, America is -- somehow -- in some sort of great decline.  The British Empire fell, but life ain't too bad in Blighty these days.  The "declining empire" spin becomes quite weak when you actually look at the big picture.

Is there economic damage that has been done?  Of course.  We've wasted an enormous chunk of money -- to say nothing of lives -- in Iraq.  $500bn over four years.  But try to keep in mind that tis is less than one twenty-sixth of one year's output.  Give me a break.  America could pull out of Iraq tomorrow, raise taxes to balance the budget, and be in better shape than ever.

There is no great symbolism in losing in Iraq.  This has nothing to do with projecting power.  America could blow the entire region off the planet in a matter of hours if it chose to.  Bush launched a half-assed effort in an idiotic war.  That's it.  Trying to depict this loss as being a sign of America's decline borders on the religious in its objectivity.

I mean no offense, whatsoever, to you, Alexander, so all due apologies if any is taken, but it's simply ridiculous.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.