[RWebb]

I think John put it well.

After talking to foreign tourists, I sometimes bring up US hegemony in the world. Given that some country has that degree of power & control (and this is the first time it has happened since ancient Rome) who would they like to have that country be -- if it were not the US. I have never had anyone suggest a different country. I once asked some young Germans - well what about Germany? everything would work well, etc. They were very emphatic - HELL NO, in essence. Sometimes people suggest the Swiss or Swedes, etc. but then they retract that after thinking a bit.

Obviously, the Chinese would like a little slice of the power pie - but no one in Asia will suggest Japan - even now.

Australia often comes in second, but is never picked by New Zealanders....

Feelings do vary with time & presidents -- Bush is pretty well uniformly hated.