The Americans should have never been in the nation building business in the first place.  Every time a US led "coalition" has tried to impose democracy by use of military force, the results have been a disastrous mess and created an increase in terrorism.  Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan are just the more recent examples.

US "soft power" in pushing for democratization has been a disaster too.  The so called "color revolutions" resulted in governments that were even more corrupt than the previous governments that they replaced.  The push to ditch Arafat and have the Palestinians vote led to a Hamas government.  Egypt lost Mubarak and the Muslim Brotherhood came into power, until the military booted them out and retook control of the state.

I could go on and on.  Also the author states this: " if Mr. Trump wants a stronger, more deeply integrated North America to serve as a bulwark against China."  The US owes the Chinese over a trillion dollars. Maybe they can start by paying it off.