The American Era is Far from Over

America’s challenge now more than ever before is to reassert itself in the world in a meaningful and constructive way

By Anil Madan

The chaos and mismanagement of the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan sent the fraternity of “experts” in foreign affairs, a gaggle of speculating pundits into a frenzy. Some saw it as redolent of the defeat of a superpower, others as a sure sign that the America era, the American century, yea even the American Empire was done. To some extent, this was understandable. Indeed, America seemed to be retreating, running away from its commitment and self-assumed responsibility to preserve Democracy, and abandoning its mission whatever that mission may have been if ever there was a mission.

Arrival of the ‘Post-American Era’? Pic – CHINA US Focus

Even today, there are many commentators who posit that Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine may be attributed in large measure to his perception that America is weakened and disengaged. The adage that power fills a vacuum comes to mind.

I suggest that these views have no validity and reflect a misreading of history and a jump to conclusions based on misconstruction of former President Trump’s statements about America’s role in the world. He was, as we know, not the most articulate of men and tended to speak in incomplete sentences, in sound bites if you will.

A new American isolationism

The notion that Trump was orchestrating a new American isolationism was prompted by his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly in which he repeated to the world what he had been saying to his domestic audiences, that he was about America first and ending engagement in wars around the world. He vowed that the US would exit Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. * Read More… Become a Subscriber

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 15 April 2022