The problem with an analysis like this is that it creates a false ultimatum: or America must continue what it's doing or everything is going to get worse. This is not true. We can take another look at the international order without America making unilateral decisions. Coll makes it seem like it's our sole responsibility to do this, and that's just a horrible way to look at the situation.

It's not "unfortunate" that we have learned the lesson that the US should not be meddling in the sovereignty of other nations. On the contrary, it's very fortunate. What Coll should be saying is that we shouldn't retreat into our shells, but rather look to form international unions that can help order the world. The US should no longer be the policer and its citizens don't want that anymore either. We just have intellectuals like Coll still believing so and "lamenting" our withdrawal from the international stage.

Instead of being sad about this, their efforts should be to reconstruct a just and egalitarian international system, not simply holding on to American neoimperialism as the end to all evils.