the U.S. is the world's only superpower. Other democratic countries which have the population, money and technology to field large and powerful military machines (Japan, Germany, Italy, France) have chosen-in my view at least-to abdicate their responsibilities to protect global security, trade, and freedom. They (with the one exception being the UK) made this choice a long time ago. That means that whenever a scumbag dictator arises to threaten his neighbors, his own people or western interests, its up to us to deal with it. That is unfortunate. I don't always agree with US policy, nor do I think we have a monopoly on wisdom. I think we've made some stupid mistakes. Nonetheless, unless and until other democracies are prepared to double or triple their defense budgets, put tens or hundreds of thousands of their young men in harm's way, make themselves a target and, in extreme cases, sacrifice tens of thousands of their citizens lives, its up to us. He who pays the bills calls the shots. Its that simple. Always has been, always will be. The Europeans want an equal say but are simply not willing to carry an equal share of the burden. Until they are, they will be sidelined. They shouldn't expect anything different.