Comparing Josef Joffe and Shilbey TelhamiAmerica Acting Alone

When trying to answer the loaded question, “Why do they hate us so much,” Telhami states that the hostility is not based in American values, but rather due to the foreign policy that seems to only consider American interests. Telhami points to the fact that France, which shares America’s western values, is well liked in the Middle East. Joffe makes the claim that we are no longer checked or balanced by the Soviet Union, and thus, America is now able to engage in foreign policy unilaterally. This unilateral action is the root of the problem when it comes to Middle Eastern views towards the United States.
Joffe makes the claim that on principle people do not like excessive power. In his words, the US has become a “Hyper Power,” unopposed by any other power. This occurred on Christmas Day 1991, when the Kremlin lowered the Soviet Flag for the last time. During the Afghan war, it became clear that the US did not need the coalition with others, but only the assistance. In t...