America is the greatest nation with the weakest foreign policy and it has been so since Ronald Reagan left office.
The diplomatic core of each and every foreign country sees its role as one of convincing U.S. foreign policy makers to favor the aims and desires of their respective countries. Our problem is that our State Department thinks that is their role as well - convincing U.S. foreign policy makers to favor the aims and desires of other countries, not ours.
It’s as if it is necessary, and in U.S. interests, for the U.S. to be “friendly” to every other nation, but it is in no nation’s best interest to try to be “friendly” with the U.S. - according to how our State Department operates.
Unfortunately, the incompetent federal swamp extends far beyond Foggy Bottom. Tell me, which federal agency seems to you to be trustworthy and is doing a good job for its boss, all American citizens. Name one (besides the Military). Don't feel bad if you can't -- I can't either. The FBI is a joke and the CIA worse (even Porter Goss failed to get it under control). Then add in a massive federal bureaucracy whose only interest is remaining employed (protecting their own rice bowls), doing as little as possible while maximizing their own pay and perks (much like our political hacks in what we laughingly refer to as "Congress").