The American Empire Seems Poised for Collapse

Obviously, most of the US elite are pretending otherwise, but our current financial predicament predicts that the American empire cannot be sustained much longer. Which may be one unintended good outcome of the Bush presidency, as hard as it will be for this country in some ways.

Of course, the true Powers That Be don't care much about the suffering of the average American citizen-- they owe no allegiance to any country, and they enjoy inflicting pain.

UPDATE: Some related discussion here.