The Fearful Superpower

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  • Posted By: latherbes @ 12/14/2007 9:17:02 AM

    Most are of the opinion that the damage has been done and it can???t get any worse but it can and will. Our Government and our people need to step up and do whats necessary to salvage what???s left of our country and it???s dignity, IMPEACH ALL OF THEM. Our fore fathers wrote a document called the Declaration of Independence and I encourage every American to read it. The events that inspired the American Revolution almost parallel today???s events. The true fear is that we know what has to be done but lack the cahones to do it. Lord help us and may our fore fathers and future generations forgive us.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/14/2007 1:57:23 AM

    To the author: Another excellent article, the most interesting point mentioned is that the U.S. invasions had bi-partisan support. Inotherwords, the Democrats have supported these actions. Could it be that the same forces run both parties POLITICAL MACHINERY. Will OBAMA CHANGE THIS. IS HILLARY CLINTON NOT PART OF THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT SUPPORTED THESE ACTIONS. "The notion that the United States today is in grave danger of sitting back and going on the defensive is bizarre. Since 2001, Washington, with bipartisan support, has invaded two countries and dispatched troops around the world, from Somalia to the Philippines, to fight Islamic militants. It has ramped up defense spending by $187 billion" The facts are that America's aggressive actions have been supported by both parties. TREMENDOUS POINT.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/14/2007 9:06:42 AM

      Ain't it amazing what FEAR can do to your own country

  • Posted By: bacchusPlateau @ 12/14/2007 8:46:37 AM

    This president has set civil rights back at least 20 years. He has spread hate among the arab nations creating more terrorists than when he took office. We went to war over specious evidence that has made us look like fools on the world stage. The mission in Iraq has changed on a yearly basis. None of Rumsfeld's assumtions were correct NONE OF THEM. We've spent precious lives and billions of dollars there. I could go on and on. The comment by CommonSense is ludicrous when he says that neither of the dems front runners have any foreign experience. President Bush had none and still has none. What a complete boob he is. I am ashamed of him.

  • Posted By: owiz @ 12/14/2007 8:45:42 AM

    George W. Bush did the right thing when the times and circumstances dictated. Think of it again-Just when he was being inaugurated by the American people and fresh from swearing to protect the nation and the people, the terrorists strike. Even the most sane person would covert and be a beast in order to achieve the right goals. I like Bush because he has stayed principled despite a whole lot of falsified opinions. As for the next occupant of white house, there is a tough time ahead. This is because opinions do not translate into reality. In fact reality and opinions are strange bedfellows. The media has been a wrong place to get facts, I am sorry to say. The main stream media has been infested with deluded people who are wishful thinkers.

  • Posted By: PeterSunn @ 12/14/2007 8:40:02 AM

    CommonSense (or lack thereof): Don't compare the releasing of ballistic missle technology to the Chinese to frat-house pranks. By doing so you expose a lack of objectivity; your argument loses all credibility. You could have made a couple of good points, but you merely came across as another ranting, agenda-driven partisan. You've been watching way too much Fox News.

  • Posted By: neoconx @ 12/14/2007 8:37:45 AM

    wishful thinking by the democrats at newsweek...was that redundant?

  • Posted By: atushia @ 12/14/2007 7:51:47 AM

    George W Bush has sunk this country into oblivion and the day he goes and the day an american president gets up adn says to the world "Iraq was a mistake!" then we will be back on track with the world. The world doesnt want China or Russia as superpowers who only care about their own problems, they want europeans, the UN, america but they want an america that doesnt start silly wars, say stupid comments like "old europe" and acts responsibly as a superpower should act. Hopefully Bush will be remembered as a blip, a mistake and not as the beginner of something new in american politics and government.

  • Posted By: outofideas @ 12/14/2007 7:47:13 AM

    I think it is forgotten who or what can actually have the biggest effect on what direction U.S. policy takes. Much of our fears, as a country, and even the causes we support are heavily influenced and manipulated, not by public demand, but by money and power. Since there is a new emerging world surrounding us it is very likely if not certain that sociaety will eventially be nudged in the right direction. You could argue I am just an alarmist with a chip on my shoulder against those with money and power but if you were to take an honest look at many of the 'causes' Americans have supported over the years and the wars we have engaged in you would see there has been a great amount of nudging. It has been very rare for the effects of a 'cause' or 'war' to benefit society as a whole. In the past thirty years the success and wealth has gone to a very gifted few. Fortunately, it HAS somewhat benefited most Americans, but at what price? All one has to do to see the evidence of this is to turn on C Span. When you watch an elected official argue with ferver and strength, successfully, against closing a tax shelter loop hole that only exists to allow ultra millionairs the ability to pay little to no taxes then you really have to ask yourself, "Who is really in charge?" because it's not the average American.

  • Posted By: NKOWA @ 12/14/2007 7:40:21 AM

    Political Unity, military chaos, and Anti-American beliefs, Oh My!
    No longer are we in a war against terrorism, we are in a global fight for social and economic survival. Not only do we need an honest leader to point us to world democratic change, but, we need more people who can understand, they too, need to adapt world change. We are no longer safer today, than, we were prior to 9/11. In fact, we have hit the anti-American bee-hive with a stick, and we can't get out of the way. So, we need to at the very least respect the world, and show, display, perform, or even just act like we are evolving into a global unity. We don't need to sucker punch, sister smack, body slam, or destroy another country, but, we do need to show compassion, intellect, integrity, and responsibility for the world as the single place where everyone lives. America doesn't need to be the victor, villian, nor victim, but, the intiator for humanity, peace, and unity.

  • Posted By: NKOWA @ 12/14/2007 7:39:32 AM

    Political Unity, military chaos, and Anti-American beliefs, Oh My!
    No longer are we in a war against terrorism, we are in a global fight for social and economic survival. Not only do we need an honest leader to point us to world democratic change, but, we need more people who can understand, they too, need to adapt world change. We are no longer safer today, than, we were prior to 9/11. In fact, we have hit the anti-American bee-hive with a stick, and we can't get out of the way. So, we need to at the very least respect the world, and show, display, perform, or even just act like we are evolving into a global unity. We don't need to sucker punch, sister smack, body slam, or destroy another country, but, we do need to show compassion, intellect, integrity, and responsibility for the world as the single place where everyone lives. America doesn't need to be the victor, villian, nor victim, but, the intiator for humanity, peace, and unity.

  • Posted By: Borhanuddinang @ 12/14/2007 6:53:45 AM

    In history, america's foreign policy has always opted for aggression over discussion due to their "America's way or no way" approach in table discussion. That is why America is left out in the economic, bio-research, social and geo-political alliance race of the world today.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 12/14/2007 3:43:40 AM

    To Fareed Zakaria; an eye opening article, but the Americans have taken things for grant ,thus the Americans would never take heed to the various points highlighted in the article. No matter who the next president is things will never change. The rest of the world including its allies are getting fed-up with the bullying and arm twisting by the US. If this continues then the US will just be a lonely big-foot.

  • Posted By: JBuzicky75@comcast.net @ 12/14/2007 3:33:48 AM

    I agree that to say this is all Bu$h's fault is not entirely accurate. Bu$h is but a puppet that is controlled by Dick Cheney and the Israeli Lobby.

  • Posted By: jgb2004 @ 12/14/2007 1:16:20 AM

    Thank you Mr. Zakaria for being a voice of reason and understanding and for presenting us with a glimpse of the big picture. It seems rare to find an article like this. Usually the media is one of the worst when it comes to hyping up the fear in this nation.

  • Posted By: vikingtom53 @ 12/14/2007 1:13:57 AM

    Mr. Zakaria:
    You're too knowlegable to become the President - run for "First Advisor" instead !! Your world-wide economic understanding will benefit every American!!
    Tom

  • Posted By: Annita Wozniak @ 12/13/2007 11:33:06 PM

    Good Grief ! What is happening to our country! Will you please consider running for President.
    Thank you.

  • Posted By: bigbrewhaha @ 12/13/2007 10:30:53 PM

    Hopefully China will be kind to our children and grandchildren, with the current mismanagment of our nations finances, astronomical debt, and complete paranoia of everyone not american and lack of anyone who would come to our aid during a future conflict we will be in no position to get in their way when they prove to be the only global superpower in the next few decades decade or so.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/13/2007 11:09:22 PM

      People call me crazy when i agree with you how ever you forgot a few items. One they own us lock stock and barrel our deficit proves that as its they who bought it all up and second we just don't have the balls to tell Isreal to stop selling weapons to China aainst the arms bann as we sell them our weapons and nuclear weapons to boot. To say China would need to accualy have to bleed to own this country is a myth. A sad sad myth but for it's people who when borders are crossed and we are invaded we to will become terrorist! I for one would and could make Bin-Lauden look like tinker bell! An oathe for someone else's God and my country to fight both forign and domestic enemies!

      • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/13/2007 11:25:42 PM

        only problem is China has no intention to invade or conquer the USA we pay intrest and greed over powers or inhances intell. that a conquered country don't pay there debts. we want our money so no war today. Besides as long as we spend trillions on defence they spend trillions on how to buy another countries debt and advanced tech. To usher in the new and control the old. Own it all, and not a drop of blood dropped, and let them run there own [USA] country.

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/13/2007 9:57:07 PM

    News
    I case you don't see i apoligized i was wrong thanks for the heads up when i mailed him through the news over there [no i can't spell jazera i think] he mailed back from the region over there, so i remembered half of what went into it, but your right, my bust, sorry

  • Posted By: PMangio @ 12/13/2007 8:50:07 PM

    American Ideas will continue to provide leadership and vision to the world because it core values are rooted in freedom and truth and we know who the truth is.

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/13/2007 9:51:37 PM

      no who?? where is he now, and where was he then, and where will he be at our end?? In heaven where he does his job, not down here!

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