Fareed Zakaria's new book, The Post-American World, is a real pleasure to read. Though I have some objections, the book offers valuable insights into globalization, free trade, and "the rise of the rest" of the world. One of Zakaria's greatest strengths is in his rational assessment of the threat of terrorism. While our politicians and the media sensationalize every minor story to have us believe civilization itself is crumbling, the simple fact is that we live in an exceptionally peaceful era.
We ought to keep things in perspective because most often success presents much greater change and challenge than catastrophe.
As the hysteria to bomb Iran mounts, it is nice to know at least some in the mainstream are not afraid to point out, as Zakaria does, "The GDP of Iran is 1/68 that of the United States, its military spending 1/110 that of the Pentagon. If this is 1938, as many conservatives argue, then Iran is Romania, not Germany."
