by Li Tang

Created on: January 28, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

It's impossible to deny that the USA is the world's most powerful nation. As the initial part of the Iraq invasion showed, the US Military Machine is so powerful that no one else can match it. In the economic sphere, the USA also rules the roost when it comes to producing the most impressive list of multi-national companies.

The hard and soft power of the USA has been a boon to the world in most cases. The American Military presence has helped keep the peace that we enjoy and this has lead many parts of the developing world, particularly in Asia to enjoy the political stability that has been necessary to create the economic growth that has enjoyed.

In terms of its soft power, many people across the world are grateful to American Multinationals for providing them with jobs and new skills. We may complain about how American culture erodes national culture but the truth is, American culture has something very appealing about it.

America is indeed the "Most Benevolent Superpower the World has known." But that does not mean that American power is absolute nor does it mean that it is always benevolent.

Sometimes, as the Middle East and Africa have shown, American power is misused by misguided American Presidents. The USA set up Liberia for freed slaves and lo and behold, Liberia has remained a mess. In the Middle East, America has shown itself unable to mediate and play the role on an honest broker in terms of settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

We are also made aware of the American Military machine's limitations in Iraq. The same machine that overwhelmed Saddam's army in a matter of weeks has been unable to deal with Iraq's insurgent fractions. Why is that so?

Ironically, this entire situation may be due to a very American idea of the individual and the small man triumphing over the bigger player. In economics, the USA has been incredibly generous and somehow managed to give away economic power. US Marshal Aid built Germany and Japan, which have become significant economic rivals to the USA. Both China and India are likely to become rivals to America in the next century. How would they have done this? They would have done this by having American companies invest in them and sending their best and brightest to be trained in America. On the economic front, the giving away of economic power and the creation of rivals has benefited America. Look at the car industry. The Detroit Big Three have become better car makers thanks to Japanese competition.

On the military front, the USA has failed in campaigns when its fighting an enemy that's illusive. America overwhelmed Saddam's army but is being bogged down in a conflict against a motley crew of individuals, armed to the teeth and an ideology. Ironically, America is fighting an enemy who is using the same techniques that America used when fighting for its Independence.

America's power has been about being "BIG." Bigger is better in many cases. But the irony is, the BIG American power is often hobbled whenever it comes up against groups of small individuals, which is what America is, a collection of individuals who pride themselves in their independence and freedom.

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