Bush steps out of world picture in which U.S. is no longer the star

[firedupdem]

Decline in U.S. influence partly a result of aversion to his policies

WASHINGTON — As President George W. Bush's term comes to a close, the United States has the world's dominant economy and its most powerful military. Yet its global influence is in decline.

The United States emerged from the Cold War a solitary superpower whose political and economic leverage often enabled it to impose its will on other nations. Now America usually needs to build coalitions of nations to get its way—and often finds other world powers aren't willing to go along.

In the 1990s, America exerted leadership in all the remote corners of the globe, from the southern cone of South America to Central Asia. Now the United States has largely left the field in many regions, leaving others to show the way.

Bush has been widely blamed for the erosion of American prestige. And the decline in U.S. influence is partly the result of the reaction to his invasion of Iraq, his campaign against Islamic militants and his early disdain for treaties and international bodies.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-bush-legacy-worlddec28,0,2514900.story

[opihimoimoi]

1. W has wasted opportunities too many times...now he pays the price...he looks and sounds like a LOSER

thats because he IS A LOSER....

He just refuses to GET IT...that his actions is not helping middle America

its Intentional...he wants to enrich his friends even if it means destroying America

This is sickening....

[mikehiggins]

2. Just like Great Britain, and others before them, our time as

Empire is done, and no great loss.

The democratic principles we bragged about about so much always placed second to greed, and nothing we did was done to do anything but enrich ourselves, much like any other colonial power in history.

Now our economy is in shambles, at least for the forseeable future, and while our military is still potent, our ability to project power elsewhere in the globe is increasingly limited. The coming decades will belong to China, India, Brazil, etc., et al, and we will be left on the sidelines.

Be a lot easier that way.

[WinkyDink]

3. "PARTLY"???

[Joe Bacon]

4. Bush is the disease. Obama is the cure

The first thing President Obama needs to do is declare all Bush signing statements null and void.

And thanks to Bush, he can now reverse any pardons of the Neocon criminals Bush does.

[lunatica]

5. The problem is with that idea that America has the right to impose

We fucked up the opportunity to be a viable force in the world for something good for a change. We deserve the loss of power just like every other empire before us. No. We had to impose our will, like the bully teenager in the playground we think we have the right to push everyone around, then we're shocked when they don't like it.

[RichGirl]

6. To the world:

We're BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!

[bdamomma]

8. were back??? but we have alot of work to do to restore our credibility.

[Nipper1959]

7. Lost opportunities

The US had so many chances to retain and enhance its standing in the world during the past 8 years. After 9-11 the majority of nations in the world were supportive, fervently supportive. yet the greed of the B*sh Cheney administration saw only an opportunity to steal. And steal they did. On an unprecedented scale. They have in 8 years destroyed the moral high ground that this country aspired to, even if we did not always attain it. They have crippled the global economy and bred hatred towards the US. What I find amazing is that some people still defend the shrub and his actions.

[firedupdem]

9. Obama is a big step in the right direction....but the world is pretty

unhappy with the US right now. It will take a while to get the trust and stature we once had back.