You probably don't remember it, but earlier this year Pew Research did a poll in Europe questioning European attitudes toward the U.S. Poll results showed that 58% of Europeans wanted to see the United States weakened. Could that have been one of the reasons Europeans were so solidly behind the election of Barack Obama? Did they suspect that he was a key to a weaker America?

Now I call your attention to this story from Reuters. The National Intelligence Council has produced an analysis entitled "Global Trends 2025." The basics? The economic and political clout of the United States will decline over the next 20 years resulting in a more dangerous world with a plentitude of advanced weapons and scarcities in food and water.

The Europeans may well get what they wanted. How far into this process do you think we will get before they start screaming and begging for help from the U.S. as either Muslims or Russia embarks on a grand new adventure?