An American decline would undermine global security
CS Monitor
27-Oct-2009 (6 comments)

Norfolk, Va. - The great recession, mounting debt, military burdens, overconsumption. From New York to Beijing to Paris, there is talk, sometimes jubilant in tone, that the United States is on the decline. Some have even said that it's about time.

The truth is, if the US declines, who else could take on the tremendous world role? No one.

Rather than jeering, the rest of the world should consider just how much the US does, and step up support for it. The security of the world is at stake.

The US has played a critical role in the Persian Gulf since Britain withdrew in 1971. Without a regional protector, regional crises would cause oil prices to spike, creating economic shocks around the world. Indeed, the most serious oil shocks have come when US capability in the region was weak (consider the 1973 Arab oil embargo, the 1979 Iranian revolution, the 1980 eruption of the Iran-Iraq war).

Washington's role is also critical for Middle East peace. Israel is very strong, but a strain of its national psyche remains massively insecure. If Israel were to perceive American weakness, it would compensate by refusing to make serious concessions for peace.

In Asia, Washington helps preempt a dangerous arms race. Understandably, the US wants Japan to fund more of its own costly defense. A weakening America would likely cause Japan to increase defense spending well beyond its norm of 1 percent of gross domes... >>>

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Shah Ghollam

It is simple

by Shah Ghollam on Wed Oct 28, 2009 08:38 PM PDT

I wonder why so many Iranians live in America if they have such a poor opinion of it.

If the US had not encouraged and support Saddam to invade Iran, I probably would have been there. It is much like the thousands of Afghanis, Iraqis, Vietnamiese, Lebanese and so on, who have to leave their country to live their lives elsewhere such as the US because of the US/Israeli interventions. Very simple to understand, NO?

Now, would you care to tell us that if you love this country so much why would you bother to be concerned about Iran? In other words, you will never return to Iran since you love it here so what is Iran's concern to you? That, it seems, to be a more important question!

 


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Faramarz_Fateh

ShahGholam was born under a rock

by Faramarz_Fateh on Wed Oct 28, 2009 08:38 PM PDT

Aha!


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Onlyiran

Shah Ghpllam is Right

by Onlyiran on Wed Oct 28, 2009 08:29 PM PDT

the world should put its hopes for peace in the hands of the IRI.  They have done a mighty fine job of bringing peace to Iranians, it is time for them to spread it to the world!!!!!!!!!!


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Farhad Kashani

Shah Gholam, Are you born

by Farhad Kashani on Wed Oct 28, 2009 07:25 PM PDT

Shah Gholam,

Are you born in 2001, or has your memory prior to 2000 has been erased, or are you a pathetic desperate anti American fabricator and a liar? you're telling me world was peaceful before 2000?


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default

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by Shepesh on Wed Nov 25, 2009 03:51 AM PST

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Shah Ghollam

Actualluy

by Shah Ghollam on Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:27 PM PDT

an American decline will help balance the world peace. One does not have to go too far back to recall how much peace has been erroded around the world just since 2000! America has been a bully and a bully has no interest in anyone's interest but its own. Therefore, the world cannot put its peace at the hands of America!


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