Yet the biggest challenge to America will not come from the Middle East, but the Eurasian land mass, where China and its new attack dog, Russia, are merrily constructing a new hegemony. This alliance is not just talk; Putin and President Xi recently concluded 32 new agreements. This is in addition to a roughly $400 billion energy deal made last year.

The new Russo-Chinese alliance has already changed the world’s post-Cold War order. Putin’s seizure of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine have been made easier by both Chinese tolerance and an understandable lack of concern about American resolve to do much about it. Joint operations by these two militaries, particularly at sea, now threaten America’s military hegemony in a way not seen since the days of the Soviet Union.

By far, the biggest challenge revolves around China’s growing economic might and influence. The widespread acceptance by our allies to participation in the China-led Asian Infrastruture Investment Bank surprised American policy makers, who were caught flat-footed once again. The bank represents just one part of China’s drive to re-establish dominion both over its traditional “silk road” route through central Asia as well as re-establishing a centuries-lost control of the ocean waters south of China.

The sense that the U.S. is in retreat, and led by a particularly feckless elite, is widespread throughout Asia. High level officials in places like Singapore have expressed deep-seated fear that none of China’s future aggressive moves – possibly including an open seizure of Taiwan – would be resisted by the United States.