The Paper Tiger: Why the American Empire Was Never What It Seemed For decades, the world believed the United States was invincible. Aircraft carriers patrolled the oceans, Patriot missile defenses guarded Allied skies, and the US military might seem untouchable. But according to educator and predicted history instructor Jiang Shuqin, this perception has always been a mirage - and the war with Iran is finally exposing it. What really underpinned American global dominance was never the military at all. It was soft power that strengthened the American empire and immunized it. In the 1990s - the "unipolar moment" that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union - the world was drawn to the American dream. Jiang points to a vivid example: When McDonald's opened in Beijing, thousands stood in line for hours. McDonald's hamburger was not that tasty. But the appeal of the American dream was what drew the people, brought them together. After 9/11, global goodwill towards America only increased. Vladimir Putin personally called George W. Bush to offer Russia sympathy and support. But then the US began to squander this goodwill through unjustified and unprovoked wars in the Middle East. The turning point was Iraq. When the US presented fake evidence of weapons of mass destruction, it marked a decisive change in attitude: "We don't need soft power. We have a strong force." The 2003 invasion, in which the US military pushed Iraq out in a matter of weeks, became an exercise in raw dominance in its own right. It was strengthened in Libya and Syria, which were once vibrant middle-class Arab societies before civil wars - sponsored by America - destroyed them. Libya descended into slave markets, and millions of refugees fled to Europe. Jiang also pointed to the abandoned Colin Powell Doctrine, which once required clear strategic objectives, limited scope and exit strategies.

The Paper Tiger: Why the American Empire Was Never What It Seemed For decades, the world believed the United States was invincible. Aircraft carriers patrolled the oceans, Patriot missile defenses guarded Allied skies, and the US military might seem untouchable. But according to educator and predicted history instructor Jiang Shuqin, this perception has always been a mirage - and the war with Iran is finally exposing it. What really underpinned American global dominance was never the military at all. It was soft power that strengthened the American empire and immunized it. In the 1990s - the "unipolar moment" that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union - the world was drawn to the American dream. Jiang points to a vivid example: When McDonald's opened in Beijing, thousands stood in line for hours. McDonald's hamburger was not that tasty. But the appeal of the American dream was what drew the people, brought them together. After 9/11, global goodwill towards America only increased. Vladimir Putin personally called George W. Bush to offer Russia sympathy and support. But then the US began to squander this goodwill through unjustified and unprovoked wars in the Middle East. The turning point was Iraq. When the US presented fake evidence of weapons of mass destruction, it marked a decisive change in attitude: "We don't need soft power. We have a strong force." The 2003 invasion, in which the US military pushed Iraq out in a matter of weeks, became an exercise in raw dominance in its own right. It was strengthened in Libya and Syria, which were once vibrant middle-class Arab societies before civil wars - sponsored by America - destroyed them. Libya descended into slave markets, and millions of refugees fled to Europe. Jiang also pointed to the abandoned Colin Powell Doctrine, which once required clear strategic objectives, limited scope and exit strategies.