https://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/04/18/if-you-wanted-to-take-the-united-states-from-exceptional-to-ordinary-how-would-you-do-it/feed/PJ Media is a leading news site covering culture, politics, faith, homeland security, and more. Our reporters and columnists provide original, in-depth analysis from a variety of perspectives.en-usWed, 10 Jun 2026 11:51:45 -0400<![CDATA[The United States&#8217; position in the world is tops in every major category. Our economy is the largest and most vibrant by far, our currency is the global standard, our military is unchallenged, and our influence is unrivaled. Our strategic alliances around the world have made friends out of former enemies, rebuilt war-torn countries and a continent, and our global presence has established a Pax Americana, in which the countries most influenced by long-term American presence or friendship enjoy a relatively peaceful and prosperous existence. There are exceptions, of course, notably Afghanistan and Iraq, but the exceptions in some respect prove the rule: They were both violent tyrannies before we began the exhausting and expensive project to bring them into the Pax, and now at least Iraq has a chance at something approaching a civilized existence.]]>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:23:57 -0400<![CDATA[Bryan Preston]]>https://pjmedia.com/bryan-preston-1/2011/04/18/if-you-wanted-to-take-the-united-states-from-exceptional-to-ordinary-how-would-you-do-it-n146211