Do you ever hear anyone outside the United States say the US is weak? Do other countries with competing interests act like the US is "weak and ineffectual"? No, you don't, because they know we aren't. The largest and most powerful air force in the world is the USAF, and the second one is the US Navy, which is also the most powerful navy on the planet. Countries come to us to settle disputes, the global economy reacts to changes in the dollar, continents buy our products, and so much more. Anyone who says the United States of America is lying, misinformed, or an idiot. Okay, rant over