The recently published book “The Next Decade” by George Friedman, the founder of eminent Stratfor think-tank that forecasts global events, has dwelled at length the idea of quietly distancing from the Jews and Jewish Israel, if the United States has to continue with its dominant superpower role. The book provides two concepts; one of the US as an uncontested empire and the other of the survival of the republic linked with the management of the empire.
There is no contesting the fact that the US is an empire, but whether the republic can survive in this game of global and regional powers is the main concern of the book. It establishes that the US empire will retain its powers for the next decade, even the next century, while the republic remains in danger of being engulfed by the regime it selects. It is only through the presidency that the republic can survive as it is the only office for which people, as a whole, select a powerful leader.
The relevant excerpts from the book, as follows, speak volumes for the realisation of the republic turning into an empire state in the United States, which are very important to note while formulating any future strategy of further establishing relationship with America. The author says “I am not convinced that (the US) empire is worth the price of republic.” “The reality is that the American people have no desire for an empire.” “Foreign policy and values simply coincide. The President will have to pursue virtue as all of our great presidents have done: with suitable duplicity.” “The US possesses what I call “deep power”, and deep must be first and foremost balanced power. This means economic, military, and political power in appropriate and mutually supporting amounts.” “Unrivalled power is dangerous enough, but unrivalled power that is oblivious is like a rampaging elephant.”
ALYA ALVI
Islamabad
