America Has Been Shaken

If we were to analyze the events of the last few weeks in the U.S., and the world’s reaction to them, it would seem that America has fallen into a streak of bad luck.

Firstly, Russia has come out on top with regard to Obama’s self-assured attempt to begin military intervention in Syria without U.N. approval, while undermining the prestige of the American presidency.

We are now entering the second week that Americans will spend without a confirmed budget and in a state of government shutdown.

It’s interesting to wonder, by the way, how much of the Republicans’ desire to hinder Obama by refusing to approve the budget was linked to the decrease in prestige after the failure to intervene in Syria?

As they say, the eagle has landed … Panic is finally growing over the imminence of Oct. 17, when the U.S. will be forced to default if the Republicans do not agree to raise the debt ceiling.

The wavering and confusion in the minds of Americans in this regard is illustrated by the debate in two articles between readers of the popular publication, The Huffington Post.

Despite the fact that the press is traditionally regarded as being supportive of the Democratic Party, users focused on criticizing Barack Obama, stooge of the Democrats. The first article dealt with the concerns of China, the main creditor of the United States, over the presumed failure of U.S. lawmakers to raise the debt ceiling in order to avoid defaulting on Oct. 17.

Deputy Finance Minister of China, Zhu Guangyao, urged the U.S. to take concrete steps in order to avoid defaulting, necessary for the protection of Chinese investments and the stability of the global economy.

“Obama is not going to pay attention to the signs that indicate that he is leading our country to ruin until the Chinese give him notice to vacate the White House so that they can enter power instead,”* commented one user.

“Thanks, Obama, for all this mess,”* echoed another.

“I am a moderate Democrat, and the more I read about this, the more I hope that we default and that it hits big business. The Republican Party makes me sick, and it’s a crying shame that this country is in such a condition. Let’s declare ourselves bankrupt and fire everyone who’s responsible for this mess — I mean the president and Congress,”* argued a third.

“Get rid of them all, and you’ll get my vote,”* agreed a fourth.

The second article reported that Vladimir Putin reacted sympathetically toward Obama’s inability to attend a regional summit in Indonesia due to his desire to end the parliamentary crisis, which could affect the largest economy in the world.

“We have fallen into a parallel universe,” writes one user, “in which the whole world considers the Russian leader more significant than the U.S. president.”*

“Try to read articles from other countries, including our allies,” recommends another. “In most countries of the world, [people] see Obama as clumsy and in well over his head.”*

“In conclusion, the conference participants gave out a collective, heartfelt sigh — ‘Thank you, President Obama!’ — and encouraged him to be absent as much as possible,”* said a third user, ironically.

“Hmm. It seems that the Obama administration will turn out to be the receiver of global help, including from Russia and China,”* suggested a fourth. “Phone Putin so he can show Obama how to carry out negotiations with Congress quickly and easily,”* recommended a fifth.

“Any other president would have been able to solve the problems and find a compromise. Barry — not really. Putin likes Obama’s failure to appear. Obama is once again allowing the world to see him as incapable of coping with our country’s business … And, of course, now Putin will dominate the meeting,”* wrote a sixth.

“Putin wants to tell Obama that he is not needed and that they can function without him,”* agreed a seventh.

An eighth wrote: “Thank you again, President Putin, for saving us from the war created by Obama. We are grateful for the help, but we have fallen into crisis again. If you can, again, please help us! We desperately need help.”*

It is clear that as a result of recent events, Americans have found themselves in a rare situation of doubt regarding the future of their country and its leaders — the first time in many years.

Of course, this is temporary for now, but it is also symbolic: When the time of America’s complete world domination after the fall of the U.S.S.R. draws to a close, it will find itself in these situations more and more frequently.

For now, the U.S. should learn to get used to it …

*Editor’s note: The original quotation, though accurately translated, could not be verified.