Less than six months ago, the US was described as a phoenix risen from the ashes, with an economic recovery, independent energy resources, dominant IT multinationals and a renascent car industry. Now it is an empire in decline, brought down by the indecisive conduct of President Barack Obama . That’s according to the chattering classes. They have made talking about “the strange weakness of America” a minor industry. They claim Obama damaged US credibility over Syria by not launching yet (...)

The Mali intervention worked well. But the attempt at a French intervention in Syria, backing US missile strikes, has left the government and its diplomats embarrassed nationally and internationally.

Diplomats now discuss human rights more than they do collective security, and so risk destabilising the United Nations.