A nice reality check

Check out this short article by Thomas Barnett (who's book The Pentagon's New Map gained some notoriety a few years back) about the 2000's and why, despite American anxiety, there were really pretty good for the world: "The Naughties Were Plenty Nice." In my opinion his take has a refreshingly global perspective. I would classify Barnett as a liberal imperialist of one stripe or another, but he is a creative and bold thinker nonetheless.