There is a common saying that goes something like this: the 20th century belonged to the United States, the 21st century will belong to China. It’s a popular refrain that is observed frequently in political circles – particularly among Western cynics struggling to come to terms with the growing chaos of American politics. America is in decline, like Britain at the turn of the 19th century. Or Rome in 400 AD. To many, American might will soon be eclipsed by the next ascendant power. In looking for who comes next, most look toward Beijing.
It’s a tempting belief; but it's profoundly misguided. American society may be more dysfunctional than ever. But its ability to project military and political power remains unparalleled across the world.
Consider the facts: the United States by a large margin still boasts the most formidable military in the world. It remains the only power that can reasonably project its will into any corner of the globe. The fundamentals of its economy remain strong, primarily due to its decades-long investments in technology. The result is a military with highly advanced capabilities that other countries simply cannot afford, much less even contemplate.
Perhaps the most impressive showing of these capabilities occurred with the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. The operation was a dominating exposé of military and intelligence capabilities that included no loss of either American lives or hardware. Reports of a mysterious and powerful sonic weapon that incapacitated Maduro’s guards showed the awesome power of American military technology. Meanwhile the staggering rate of political change in Venezuela in the days after showcased the extent to which American intelligence had penetrated Venezuelan politics.
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