Fuchs your examples miss the mark.

The Brits milked the world for decades, but that ended long ago. I doubt the Russians purpose in going to Afghanistan was a quest for tribute so much as an effort to attempt to extend their influence toward the south and warm water.

What I describe might be "exceptionalism," I don't know, I think much that gets bundled under that kind of thinking is based in the fantasy of the false self-image I described briefly above. I am simply talking cold facts. Vast amounts of American capital are currently held by Middle Eastern royals and Asian businesses who owe their liberty and protection to America. Do we get Hyundai's at half price? Oil at cost? No.

At some point we will wake up and realize these "friends" were never friends at all and wonder why they do not help us in our hour of need as we helped them. The Chinese study American closely, but I suspect they find this aspect of our nature to be rather curious.