Well what the fuck do you expect.

Our last administration shat all over every thing.

Who made this report? The rand corporation?

The problem with think tanks, is they don't think. Or they do and its group think.

It's from the National Intelligence Council. The unclassified report this refers to is located here.

the comforting part? they've gotten something wrong and missed something that will be important. what is that? we call it an unknown unknown

so don't worry about it. don't let things go wrong in your world. there are plenty of resources if the people in charge of them aren't transparently greedy. that should be taken as the serious threat it is to all people.

I think to construct this report as one of America losing its super power status is a misreading, its simply the reality of the emerging superpowers in the Developing world.

This is of course no excuse for the actions of the previous administration whose lack of leadership and planning only diminished America's status.

Well there's only one nation with superpower status left, and that's America. The report predicts the decline of USA dominance in world affairs, with emerging nations (which aren't superpowers) taking on a more influential role, leaving us in a world where no superpower exists.

I don't know Burd, what is a qualifier for Super power status the old definition seemed to require a strong economy and a nuclear arsenal which India and China fulfills.

But what I want to clarify is that I don't think this is a bad thing, living in a world of several super powers is better as its much more stabilizing, each would be connected economically and thus create a smaller world, unilateral actions would create far bigger repercussions which would require more cooperation.

I think the definition of superpower goes beyond that. It's also about a nation's ability to extend it's influence and fulfill it's foreign policy objectives anywhere on Earth. In other words, to dictate the policies of other nations in a unilateral way, across the globe, in several nations at once ... which the USA has surely done, but will, according to the report, soon be unable to. I don't think there are other emerging superpowers. Several nations with "Great Power" status, but not superpower. Whether or not it's a good thing, time will tell. The world is shrinking and our interdependence is more apparent now than ever. I think the most compelling thing about this is that it's an unclassified report by our own intelligence agencies. Not that it's a great secret, but we so openly admit it, and through official means.

I think the overarching point of limited resource availability mentioned at the beginning of the report will lower economic tides for all nations. Unless alternative energy technologies are improved and utilized, we will see increased competition for resources. A best case scenario would lead to enhanced cooperation among nations; worst case, widespread war, especially in oil rich and water poor regions. Either case does not leave much room for a hegemonic superpower.

I suspect and expect a scenario of energy wars. However acquires the most resources will be the victor.

But am cynical like that.