Notwithstanding the fact that the United States is the world's only remaining superpower with a military budget that is the envy of many nations, American resources are far from unlimited. Some observers already feel that the nation's human and financial resources are becoming dangerously overstretched.

Earlier this year the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff bluntly stated: "We are in a critical time in the history of this great country and find ourselves challenged in ways we did not expect. We face a ruthless enemy intent on destroying our way of life and an uncertain future" (The Guardian, Feb. 15, emphasis added).

The American military brief has been dubbed "The Long War." Naturally the main focus is Islamic terrorism. The United States expects and plans for a generation of anti-Islamist conflicts. But Washington 's military commitments embrace many megaproblems far more widespread than the daily threat of world terrorism.

America is not finished with its commitments overseas in the wake of World War II, which ended more than 60 years ago. Nearly 70,000 U.S. troops are still stationed in Europe. More than 68,000 remain in Japan. Nearly 70,000 are still in South Korea following the Korean conflict of the early 1950s. Qatar and Bahrain together have nearly 10,000.

Figuring in Iraq, with well over 100,000 U.S. personnel in harm's way, American military commitments abroad in both men and weaponry are truly staggering. The total global picture stands at about 350,000. According to military officialdom, "The US will work to ensure that no foreign power can dictate the terms of regional or global security."

That is truly a tall order! Given the reactions we see on television and read in newspapers and magazines, do Americans have the staying power to endure the sacrifices that will inevitably be required by growing domestic and foreign tensions? Can America continue to remain the world's policeman indefinitely?

Closer to home, the United States appears to be losing support in its own backyard of Latin America. Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Evo Morales of Bolivia are trying to take their countries out of the shadow of North America while looking abroad to China.

Did you ever ask yourself why the United States became a world superpower with Britain standing by its side as a loyal ally in most instances? Our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy explains just who the English-speaking peoples are descended from and where they are headed according to Bible prophecy.

The Bible reveals that enormous troubles lie not far ahead and that the Middle East and Europe will become even more the focus of future headlines and problems. To better understand, request or download our free booklets The Middle East in Bible Prophecy and Are We Living in the Time of the End? (Source: The Guardian.)