它限于伊拉克战争泥潭，未能领导世界处理气候变化问题，在阿布格莱布虐囚，在关塔纳摩基地关押人犯，赤字高达十万亿美元并且引发了全球金融危机。 美国一度耀眼的模式已经风光不再，而且许多人质疑美国的领导地位。
After eight years of compromised American leadership, a botched war of choice in Iraq, failure to take the lead in global efforts to address climate change, Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo Bay, running up a $10 trillion debt, and igniting a global financial crisis – America’s once-glittering model has lost a good deal of its luster and America’s leadership has been questioned by many.