Intervention Fail

Shmuel (how cool is that name) Rosner at Slate declares "the end of interventionism". An empire must have influence to be considered an "empire". The declining influence of the U.S. and the West is something we have to get used to. I even look forward to it. It's a lot of work being the boss of everyone.

Americans often search for explanations by looking inward to apportion
blame—by pointing a finger at Bush or Obama, expressing an urgent need to prioritize the economy, or rehashing the vices of liberalism and the sins of conservatism. While all these factors no doubt contribute to the current mood, looking inward is not enough—indeed, it's just another sign of Western narcissism. The end of interventionalism is not just a sign of the mellowing of the West; it is also an indication that the enemy is getting stronger—and smarter.