"American decline"--again.(Scan)

On the other side of the Atlantic, a debate is brewing about whether American power is beginning to ebb, crest, or surge ahead. One of the more lively expressions of this debate can be found on the pages of the Times of London, where Gerard Baker and Matthew Parris have exchanged salvos about the state of our union.

Baker writes almost romantically about "a nation tirelessly willing and uniquely empowered to take on the responsibilities of global leadership." In his view, "the world may grow and change around it, but I would not bet on America's eclipse just yet." He reminds us that "previous premature judgments about America's decline enjoin us to be a little circumspect about its current difficulties."

Indeed they do. Yet Mr. Parris counters Baker by trotting out many of those same old arguments about American decline:

"Ever-heavier burdens are being loaded upon a nation whose economic legs are growing shaky.... America 2005 is overstretched.... America has more than 350,000 troops abroad." He goes on to spin a tale of the good old days, when America was respected and beloved the world over: "Mr. Bush said 'freedom' 27 times in his [inaugural] speech. John F. Kennedy could be more sparing with the word because the idea behind it shone so brightly for America then, and for the world."

Parris could be right about America's future, although this is an unusual moment to try to make such a case. After all, America's is the fastest growing industrialized economy, and it remains the largest economy on earth (this after the financial body blows of September 11). Only when Europe cobbles its 25 economies together can it claim to rival U.S. economic output--and even then the claim is shaky, given the E.U.'s uncertain prospects.

From fashion to film to fast food, American culture and products are coveted and imitated around the world to an unprecedented degree. As Fouad Ajami has noted, "the world rails against the United States, yet embraces its protection, its gossip, and its hipness." Especially its protection: Some 50 countries enjoy defense treaties with the United States. The U.S. military is the last (and first) line of defense for dozens of others. This role of global guarantor now includes U.S. forces in ...