Economic: "diminution of U.S. power"

Financial Crisis May Diminish American Sway
(Wall Street Journal)…Jay Solomon and Siobhan Gorman, Oct 17, 2008.

…Many nations, from Japan to Israel to European allies, continue to rely on Washington’s power to guarantee regional stability. Asked Wednesday night if the U.S. was in decline, Defense Secretary Robert Gates responded after a recent tour of allied nations: “No. … Every one of the countries wants to have better relations with the United States. They still see the country as the last, best hope.”

Even before the current crisis, U.S. intelligence agencies had begun projecting a significant diminution of U.S. power over the next 15 years. That is a key assumption in the long-range assessment of global trends — known as the 2025 Project — that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been preparing for the next administration.