‘The American Century’ Has Plunged the World Into Crisis

[polly7]

By Conn Hallinan and Leon Wofsy
Source: Foreign Policy in Focus
June 23, 2015

The United States is undergoing a historic transition in our relationship to the rest of the world, but this is neither acknowledged nor reflected in U.S. foreign policy. We still act as if our enormous military power, imperial alliances, and self-perceived moral superiority empower us to set the terms of “world order.”

While this illusion goes back to the end of World War II, it was the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union that signaled the beginning of a self-proclaimed “American Century.” The idea that the United States had “won” the Cold War and now — as the world’s lone superpower — had the right or responsibility to order the world’s affairs led to a series of military adventures. It started with President Bill Clinton’s intervention in the Yugoslav civil war, continued on with George W. Bush’s disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, and can still be seen in the Obama administration’s own misadventures in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and beyond.

In each case, Washington chose war as the answer to enormously complex issues, ignoring the profound consequences for both foreign and domestic policy. Yet the world is very different from the assumptions that drive this impulsive interventionism.

It’s this disconnect that defines the current crisis.

Acknowledging New Realities:

Short Memories and Persistent Delusions:

Unexceptionalism:

The Home Front:

Bombs and Business:

.......

Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/the-american-century-has-plunged-the-world-into-crisis/

Disclaimer: Again, I freely acknowledge many others should also be included in these articles and titles ...... but seriously, we're destroying the world.

[elleng]

1. Yes it has.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_the_New_American_Century

SOME have decent ideas about addressing issues, but too many others choose their own egos. http://www.summitdaily.com/news/16897426-113/book-review-dont-wait-for-the-next-war

[polly7]

2. That's something I think of too when I read these articles.

When I first read about it years ago I didn't believe it would ever happen, but now I think they've succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

[swilton]

3. Despite all its triumphalism and despite the power of its military

the US intellectually is the least capable of leading the world.

[appalachiablue]

4. K & R. Homo Sapien advanced creating disaster and eco-cide-

[Nitram]

5. There's nothing special or exceptional about the U.S.

A resource-rich country accumulated wealth though the poorly-paid labor of a large number of immigrants. I suspect our evolutionary background has not equipped homo "sapiens" to handle anything on a global scale.