All I could think of while watching the war in Iraq unfold, is how very much we are as the Roman Empire was during it's golden era - minus the crucifixtions, of course. The only thing that will stop the US's juggernaut is catastrophe, and I'm not even sure that will fully disable us.
Even with all our problems, we are the most adaptable people on the face of the earth and we're the smartest too. No matter what the Europeans say about the US placing such and such in Math, Science, etc. We are the ones driving technological advance, so whoever is doing that has a handle on Math and Science and 'other' subject matter as well.
In addition, and as importantly, there are still quite a few kids out there who may not now the difference between the Pathogrean Thereom (sp?) and a Proteus switch, but they can take apart an engine and rebuild it at the age of 16 or 17. That takes smarts, it may not be SAT smarts but so what?
Speaking as an FBI (full-blooded Italian) who thinks they're pretty smart; they have nothing on Americans, plain and simple. With the possible exception of food and/or fashion; nice frippery, but not the substance of a powerhouse civilization.
Our greatest assest is that we take 'intellectuals' with a large dose of salt, and we prize commons sense above all. We reign and we rule. That probably will come to an end some day, but not for many, many generations to come.
snip
I believe the Greek word for that is "hubris".