[JmyBryan]

America's emergence as the hyperpower is happening in the age of globalization, when economies have become so intertwined that China, Russia, France or any other rivals cannot hit the U.S. without wrecking their own economies.

Exactly why globalization is a good thing and why America must maintain military dominance.

[plusone]

The US can't and won't maintain this dominance. Simply because it is too expensive. Empires always collapse under the weight of the bureaucratic/military infrastructure needed to maintain their far flung holdings and interests. Probably the closest parallel to the current US position would be Spain during the 1500's. With the Aztec gold pouring in to their coffers, the Spanish kings were, for a time, the wealthiest and most influential people in Europe. The Spanish dubloon became sort of an internation currency for a time, and Spain maintained a huge armada to protect its interests. But the expense of this influence drained away the hoardes of gold, and within the century, Spain was reduced to a second rate used-to-be.