Martin Walker is very good at describing in summary form what Michael Mandelbaum advocates in his book: “He explains cooly and clearly the various ways in which the United States now functions asa global government, offering the planet the services of physical security, commercial regulation, financial stability and legal recourse that are normally provided by national governments to their citzens.”

While Mandelbaum identfies the growing weaknesses in America’s leading management role and points with alarm to the growing doemstic bill that America is generating now and for the future in the out-of-control social spending, Mandelbaum argues that there is no credible alternative to the American role as, “linchpin and guarantor of the global system.”

Is it that simple? To the degree America asserts leadership international stability is assured and to the degree it does not – growing chaos can be expected?