- 04 Dec 2016 14:48
#14745494
Hmm, that sounds more like China. They give countries money and infrastructure to buy influence. But they end up being dispised for it due to their knack of infuriating the locals.
America is not universally dispised. Many people I met in SE Asia are desperate to get a job with an American company. The pay and conditions are good and the boss is generally pretty cool. Nobody wants to work for a Chinese company because the pay is low, conditions are bad and the boss is generally a prick.
I think you overstate antipathy toward the US. Most nations fear and hate their neighbours rather than the US and thus prefer America to play a strong role in maintaining global order. The US lead order differs from the empires that preceded it because America is willing accepted as global hegemony rather than being a power that imposes control without consent.
What is likely to happen is that US credibility will suffer. That will make things harder for the US.
One Degree wrote:The US foreign policy, since WWII, has been based upon giving countries money to be our friends.
We are universally despised because of it.
Hmm, that sounds more like China. They give countries money and infrastructure to buy influence. But they end up being dispised for it due to their knack of infuriating the locals.
America is not universally dispised. Many people I met in SE Asia are desperate to get a job with an American company. The pay and conditions are good and the boss is generally pretty cool. Nobody wants to work for a Chinese company because the pay is low, conditions are bad and the boss is generally a prick.
I think you overstate antipathy toward the US. Most nations fear and hate their neighbours rather than the US and thus prefer America to play a strong role in maintaining global order. The US lead order differs from the empires that preceded it because America is willing accepted as global hegemony rather than being a power that imposes control without consent.
Trump has thrown them off balance by saying we are no longer going to do this. We will expect everyone to pay their fair share and we will treat you as friend or enemy based upon our shared interests.
The US will have stated goals and it will be up to others whether they want to be our friends or enemies. We will no longer pay you to do so.
He has also stated his intentions to be non interventionist.
A lot of good will come of this. Europe will be forced to provide for their own defense, and become a stronger ally of the US as a result. They will no longer have a need to bash us for our interference.
The US may actually embrace a 'democratic' Russia instead of placing hurdles in their path in the name of human rights.
In short, throwing everyone off balance allows us to undo many of the mistakes of the past. We are calling a 'reset', 'rewind', 'start over'.
What is likely to happen is that US credibility will suffer. That will make things harder for the US.