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The US has global hegemony because in reality its policies are reasonable, because it isn't worth anyone's while to try to oppose it.
that I would like to oppose. It is rather the fact that in the past it wasn't very feasible. The world is getting smaller. People can fly airplanes now in every part of the world. What you see happening right now is what happened back in the late 1800s and in the early 20th century when the colonies started to rise up. The difference this time around is that the oppressed have the ability to strike back where it hurts: In the homeland. None of the colonial powers got away with it forever, sooner or later the price was too high and to think that the US is above the lesson learned it will be in for a rude awakening.
European calculations are the same: the potential cost of challenging the US is incalculable, the potential gain relatively miniscule. Come on, let's go down to the pub instead.
Still... I wouldn't count on it though. China is picking up steam, the EU is expanding and the fight over Iraq let Europe to move closer together, not further apart. Aznar and Berlusconi did what they did because they tried to have a voice in the EU that was mightier than it really is (they are afraid to loose subsidies when the EU expands eastward). Berlusconi also is on a power trip and tries to become the next Duce in Italy. Chances are neither of them will survive for much longer. Even with the Berlusconi controlled media in Italy people took notice. The little bit of democracy we have might still make a change. M. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 8.0.3 iQA/AwUBP+NLM2lCnxcrW2uuEQK5ZQCeJrNQDq5J7C6Sfl3ePoAid9cH9OIAmwQZ X0cFkSbhnj4LxvYuOgMtO7w+ =ETH9 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----