AP
President Obama leapt into the role of reluctant Superman at the end of this week's two day nuclear summit in Washington. During comments on the final day he stated "...Like it or not, we remain a dominant superpower." Oh, if only I didn't have to wear this damn cape. How much happier I'd be as little Jimmy Olsen.
Seriously. "Like it or not"? Hands up those of you who don't like being a dominant superpower. C'mon, speak up...how many of you secretly wish we weren't so damn dominant? Or super. Those who feel burdened by our status please speak up.
Really, only self-flagellating apologists who feel it's hip to blame the U.S. for the world's ills should struggle with this question. For them, it's embarrassing that America remains a superpower...its unseemly that we somehow retain the ability to reach beyond our borders to influence others. It would just be so much better if we were all equal. How the world would love us if we could just shed this burden of superpoweredness.
What a load of crap. You know what sucks more than being the playground enforcer? Losing your lunch money and getting a nirple on a regular basis. You want to be the king or one of the huddled masses? You want to be champ or play for the Cubs? Sorry, couldn't resist, my wife is a life long Cubs fan. You get my point.
For years we've been telling our kids that everyone gets a trophy...we're all winners. Here's a medal for showing up. Now, we've got our commander in chief implying that we're uncomfortable or unhappy with being on top. No empire stays an empire forever. But frankly I'm not ready to hand in the cape just yet. You think China would feel awkward about taking over? I can just see them, full of angst and regret as they demand our lunch money. How pathetic.
Mike Baker served for more than 15 years as a covert field operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency, specializing in counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations around the globe. Since leaving government service, he has been a principal in building and running several companies in the private intelligence, security and risk management sector and has recently returned to Diligence LLC, a company he cofounded in 2000, as President. He appears frequently in the media as an expert on counterterrorism, intelligence and homeland security. Baker is also a partner in Classified Trash, a film and television production company. Baker serves as a script consultant, writer and technical adviser within the entertainment industry, lending his expertise to such programs as the BBC's popular spy series "Spooks," as well as major motion pictures.
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