For now, China is having its cake and eating it too. Hopefully and presumably, once China rises to the zenith of its power in the coming years, it will mature to the point where it will no longer want to be seen as both a developing and developed country.

The strategic importance of the Old World is declining. That does not mean that the emotional bonds of the transatlantic relationship must fray. But Europe is dropping down on the list of priorities.

Beneath the pomp and splendor of Obama's journey through Asia has lurked a far tawdrier vision -- of a much weakened president presiding over a much weakened superpower, both looking somewhat desperately for succor abroad.

America is not Rome. As long as the United States preserves its values and constantly improves them, it will remain the world's only superpower.

Remarkably, Afghanistan seems once again to be shaping our future. It is paradoxical that the graveyard of one superpower should become a battlefield for the other.

The Chinese banking system has been through so much stress during the last few decades, they are in a much better position than the U.S. to deal with the global financial crisis, says Joshua Cooper Ramo.

The Iranian Republic requires American antagonism to uphold its regional influence and its stranglehold on the Iranian people - the United States should deprive it of this gift.

Will Obama rebuild our relationship with the south on a foundation of respect for democracy? Or will it be more of the same superpower policies cloaked in collaborative and intelligent rhetoric?

But if we are clear, now, about the failure of the neoconservative agenda of global dominance, the question remains: How should the U.S. relate to the rest of the world?

We no longer can afford to be the world's biggest military spender, and although the world looks to us for leadership, it has rejected domination.