] There's been a big discussion - especially since Iraq
] about whether America is an empire or not.
] Certainly we're involved in a lot of countries, and we
] have a kind of imperial reach, and people see us that
] way. But Americans are really not comfortable with this.
] They don't like the idea of ruling other people, and
] they're not in it for the long haul. They have no desire,
] like the British did in India, to rule in perpetuity. One
] of the big problems is that we are subject, as a
] democracy, to momentary enthusiasms for undertaking
] projects of various sorts. But a lot of times we don't
] have the staying power to see them through to the end.

One of the big problems is that we are subject, as a democracy, to momentary enthusiasms for undertaking projects of various sorts. But a lot of times we don't have the staying power to see them through to the end.

That comment sums up so much about the United States, even in areas having nothing to do with foreign policy and international affairs.