The Waning of an Empire

Obama has announced that the US defence budget will be downsized and highlighted the incapacity of the US waging future wars across the globe.

Some of us did wonder how much the American military machine could withstand its current foreign policy, amidst such economic woes and depression. Investments on US "defence" takes up most of the expenditure, compared with any other initiative or policy. It wasn't so bad for them before, in previous recessions, you didn’t have emerging market giants such as China and India, threatening to hopscotch the American top place for the economic superpower. Especially, given that China hasn't taken warmly to the ‘World's Police’ mentality, something that alot of the American elite and neo-cons refuse to dispose of.

Despite Obama's commitment to position US military presence in southern areas to counter China, it is interesting to find the commitment of "several thousand American soldiers" to Israel too, according to Lt.-Gen. Frank Gorenc.

What does this indicate? Stronger ties and relationship with Israel to tackle Iranian "threat"? Perhaps better monitoring of the Arab Spring?

It is worthy of note, however, Obama's commitment to non-militarised action may just be a small lull, before America creates another bogey man to dispose of. With republican candidates competing on how hardline they can be on Iran; and with US elections looming and Obama low in the polls, it is not looking good for Obama at all. There is also the big factor of the Israeli lobby. They have always pushed politicians to favour Israel - above their own American public, what would stop them from doing the same this time?