DISADVANTAGE/LEADERSHIP BAD

ANSWER: THERE IS NO USA LEADERSHIP NOW

USA IS CLEARLY WITHDRAWING FROM ITS ROLE AS WORLD LEADER SINCE 1999, WHERE ARE THE IMPACTS?

MATTHEW FISHER, The Toronto Sun, November 29, 1999, SECTION: EDITORIAL/OPINION, Pg. 15, HEADLINE: NO U.S. COP ON THE WORLD BEAT // acs-ln-12-28-99

There are other contradictions. At a time when China is sabre-rattling, India and Pakistan are threatening mutual nuclear destruction and Russia and North Korea are more unstable than ever, the U.S., with its overwhelming military and economic superiority, is becoming more isolationist.

Until and unless the U.S. figures out and sticks to a consistent military and diplomatic posture, countries such as China will continue to test American resolve in much the same way Saddam Hussein and Slobodan Milosevic did, and still do.

CTBT DEFEAT IS A CRITICAL BLOW TO USA WORLD LEADERSHIP

Financial Times (London), October 15, 1999, SECTION: COMMENT & ANALYSIS; Pg. 23, HEADLINE: American isolationism put to the test: Rejection of the nuclear test ban treaty demonstrates how world issues are pushed to the fringe of US politics // ln-10-29-99-acs

The test-ban treaty debate may not represent, as some fear, another step into American disengagement behind the high walls of its own nuclear defence. But it underlines again the extent to which international considerations have been pushed to the fringes of American politics. The broad consensus about US responsibilities in the world has fractured.

USA IS CURRENTLY UNWILLING TO PAY THE BILLS FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

Robert A. Manning, director of Asian studies at the Council on Foreign, Relations, Los Angeles Times December 12, 1999, SECTION: Opinion; Part M; Page 2; HEADLINE: THE WORLD / DIPLOMACY; THE PERILS OF BEING NO. 1 // acs-ln-12-28-99

Not since the Roman Empire has a single power held such global preeminence. In every realm--economic, military, cultural and technological--U.S. dominance is palpable and, if anything, increasing. Yet, Americans show little interest in empire or in being a new Rome. Indeed, if recent cuts in spending on foreign aid and diplomacy are indicators, Americans are not interested in paying a premium for their dominant global role.

IN THE STATUS QUO, EUROPEAN AND ASIAN PARTNERS ARE MOVING TO ACT ON THEIR OWN TO MANAGE INTERNATIONAL DIFFICULTIES WITHOUT USA PARTICIPATION

European allies decided at a meeting in Helsinki, which ended yesterday, to form a "rapid reaction force" to respond to future Bosnia-type crises. Two weeks earlier, 13 Asian nations gathered in Manila to conceive a pan-Asian economic and security future modeled after that of the European Union. Although the meeting was held in the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, and key U.S. allies Japan and South Korea participated, no Americans were invited.

Isn't it U.S. alliances--the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Europe and the democracies in Japan and South Korea--that underpin global stability?

Americans may think of themselves as good global citizens who believe that the rule of law should guide international relations. But to much of the world, U.S. behavior frequently appears unilateral, capricious and strategically incoherent.

USA GLOBAL LEADERSHIP WILL DECLINE IN THE NEAR TERM

Samuel Huntington, chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, January 28, 2001 BANGKOK POST HEADLINE: GLOBAL VIEWPOINT: Another new world order in the making//VT2002acsln

GV: Will the West still be on top in 15 years? Will the US still be the hegemon?

HUNTINGTON: The European Union and China will be major actors. In due course, Russia will come back, and India may emerge as an influential actor. The long-run trend is definitely toward more equality among the major powers and less dominance by the US, whose relative power will erode. The US no longer has the will to run the entire world, and the entire world will have less and less patience with the US trying to do so.