For more than two decades many well-qualified writers and pundits have been foretelling of the death of the “American Empire”, but I have never been one of them. Until recently, I have remained convinced that the structural strength of the US economy, guided by the innate goodness of the majority of its people would stem any sudden or drastic decline in America as a world power.

The latest adventurism in the Middle East has cast the shadow of doubt over my thinking.

Over a century ago, the great American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English, H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) published the following:

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

Mencken first wrote that sardonic prediction in the Baltimore Evening Sun on 26^th of July 1920, and that day seems to have come on the second Tuesday of November 2024 with the election of Donald J. Trump. Most people focus on the latter half of Mencken’s comment but you must not overlook the former half. We cannot forget that the current president, the self-proclaimed “stable genius” who has never read the constitution he has sworn twice to uphold and defend. He did not seize power in a coup. A majority of the electorate wanted his leadership and must now live with the consequences.

To be sure, America is not alone in the warping of their democracy. Neither is it alone in electing unqualified leaders. Canada has only recently bid farewell to its own unqualified, though far less bellicose, prime minister, although a couple of the provinces remain in the grips of lesser lights. We have begun our recovery. Can America do the same? Recent history does not bode well for the Great Republic. It seems to have lost sight of what it means to be a world hegemon.

I have remarked before that we seem to live in the Age of Hyperbole and the “leader of the free world”, the Commander-in-Chief of “the greatest military the world has ever known” is living proof that hyperbole does not equate to fact. Recently he went to war with a fourth-rate power — and lost. As tragic as that war has proven, it is not a unique — in spite of being uniquely idiotic — in American history during the period since the end of World War II, when America truly had saved the world from demonic fascism and set a new course for freedom loving peoples everywhere.

Let’s review some (but not all) misuse of the astounding ability of the US military to project force.* Sadly, most of us are familiar with the Viet Nam War. Likewise, the Iraq War and the Afghan War. In spite of Clio, the ancient Greek Muse of History, wagging her disapproving finger at America, the president once again confused force and power. He attacked a fourth-rate power and they called his bluff. His “victory” is anything but. America has spent blood and treasure only to be once more humiliated, and the current situation is actually worse than was the status quo ante.

The Strait of Hormuz is closed to shipping and risks becoming the first international maritime passage in modern history requiring the payment of tribute.

America’s enemies are rejoicing at its misstep with China reputedly working feverishly to step in with security guarantees that used to be offered by the United States.

The American taxpayer is being bled white by senseless expenditures at home and abroad.

Long-time friends and allies are pivoting away from the US and the greatest political-military alliance the world has yet to see is quietly wondering whether to ignore or perhaps even eject its founding member.

I am no Nostradamus, but these are the signs I bring to you. We’ll pick up this thread next week in Part II.

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* To see another example of mistaking force for power, I encourage you to re-read my post Hubris posted 23 February 2025.