Fight this war, not the last one

JUST a decade ago, a short season in the ebb and flow of global influence, economics was in thrall to the Washington consensus and geopolitics was a wholly owned subsidiary of the hyperpower run out of the White House. Today, before launching an attack to punish Syria’s Bashar Assad for using chemical weapons, Barack Obama has felt bound to seek the blessing of Congress (see article). Britain has failed to stand alongside its closest ally (see article). The Middle East echoes to talk of America’s diminished leadership. And one of Mr Obama’s aides has briefed that the strike will be “just muscular enough not to get mocked”.