ABSTRACT
People used to think of the United States (US) as a global leader. Now a majority of the world thinks of it as a rogue power. Why? The answer to this question has, to a large degree, to do with what the US has become. The reelection of George W. Bush in November 2004 made it indelibly clear to the international community that the US is no longer what it was. Indeed, under Bush, the US has become what it was founded not to be: established as a haven for those fleeing the abuse of power, it has attained and now wields nearly absolute power. It has become an empire. This is meant as a statement of fact, not a judgment of national character. It is a way of understanding America, not an indictment against the American people. Indeed, by opening up the possibility of viewing the US as an empire, one opens up a far larger frame of reference to understand America's history, its role in the world, and its future responsibilities. It certainly helps in understanding what is going on in Iraq.
