> sKoE )= wrote:

> > The U.S. is the sole remaining Super Power with influence that stretch the world wide.

Erm, no. But i would say its one of, if not the, influential countries at this point of time. Its also the most hated.

Then you sir, are confused...

The U.S. is the world's ONLY superpower, not to say it's gonna stay that way for long there are 3 potential superpowers rising, China, Russia, India, will they make it to that level? Who knows.

But as of now, yes the U.S. is hated, as was Rome, Russia, and England during there peaks of power, the top guy is always hated because they are under a microscope by the world, and for your reading pleasure.

This is why America currently IS the world's only superpower, and an empire ( But it might be about to fall we shall know in the coming years) :

"A superpower is a state with a leading position in the international system and the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests; it is traditionally considered to be one step higher than a great power"

The U.S.'s interests are influenced on a Global scale.

>>With the demise of the Soviet Union, the United States has become the one remaining superpower. Our GDP has surpassed 10.5 trillion dollars per year, dwarfing all other countries. Our annual military budget roughly equals all other countries in the world combined. We clearly have more power and influence than any nation in history. However, while this is probably good for us, is it good for the rest of the world? Having this much power creates a lot of responsibility. Is the world better off with us as the sole superpower or would the world be better off with multiple world powers such as was the case during the Cold War, when the U.S. and Soviet Union shared superpower status?<<

>
Top 10 most powerful nations

1) United States of America
2) People's Republic of China
3) Russian Federation
4) Republic of India
5) Islamic Republic of Pakistan
6) United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
7) Republic of France
8) Federal Republic of Germany
9) Republic of South Korea
10) Federative Republic of Brazil <

>>

Top Ten By Combat Power

United States
China
Israel
India
Russia
Korea, South
Korea, North
United Kingdom
Turkey
Pakistan

<<

>> Another scale rating <<
Country
United State
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Japan
Canada
Sweden
China
Norway
Netherlands<<

If the U.S. is not an empire - Then explain this distribution of combat power world wide.
>>
Current Ongoing Major USM conflicts:

Iraq - About 170,000 USM Personnel (2003 - 2007)
Afghanistan - About 19,500 USM Personnel (2001 - 2007)

AFRICA: *180 USM Personnel (2007)

ASIA: *75, 890 USM Personnel (2007)

AUSTRALASIA: *50 USM Personnel (2007)

EUROPE: * 93, 015 USM Personnel (2007)

Middle East: *286, 885 USM Personnel (2007)

NOTE: Please note that the "other" capable countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Japan and others have or had USM troops in their soil in very large numbers. The USM also has treaties that allow them to Re-Station in some countries were they were before.

United Kingdom - 10,967 USM Personnel (2007)

Germany - 63,958 USM Personnel (2007)

Italy - 11,693 USM Personnel (2007)

Japan - 48,844 USM Personnel (2007)

South Korea - 26,477 USM Personnel (2007)

Iraq - About 170,000 USM Personnel (2003 - 2007)

Afghanistan - About 19,500 USM Personnel (2001 - 2007)

France - 71, 530 on 1957 to about 70 USM Personnel (2007) <<

>>With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States stood tall -- militarily invincible, economically unrivalled, diplomatically uncontestable, and the dominating force on information channels worldwide. The next century was to be the true "American century," with the rest of the world molding itself in the image of the sole superpower.<<

Sources:
http://www.alternet.org/audits/60489/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superpower
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/sole_superpower.htm
http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-powerful-countries-map.html
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-15272.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Which_nation_has_the_strongest_military