Summary: The author argues that America’s leaders may be pushing the country toward a weaker global position by withdrawing support from allies and limiting influence to the Western Hemisphere. This shift could lead to deindustrialization and increased dominance by China and Russia. The piece suggests that some leaders might prioritize their ideological goals over America’s international strength, risking further decline.
Part of that idea is to divide the world into three spheres of influence, controlled by three authoritarian conservative powers — China as the ruler of Asia, Russia as the ruler of Europe, and America as the ruler of the Western Hemisphere. (View Highlight)
the most plausible alternative to the Metternich-Lindbergh theory of Trump’s behavior is that he’s trying to pull a Reverse Kissinger (View Highlight)
eventually enough praising of dictators and denouncing of democracies will make the American people notice (View Highlight)
Most Americans don’t like it when their leaders sell them out to their enemies. (View Highlight)