[DWPittelli]

Forgive me for being so economically ignorant, but if WE can buy goods and services around the world with our dollar, why can't foreigners do the same thing?

They can and we can. The dollars may pass through various third parties. But all the dollars will eventually buy something American.

[ninenot]

But all the dollars will eventually buy something American.

Yup.

T-Bonds.