The new empire

Michael Gorbachev presided over the demise of one empire – the former Soviet Union – and is now lamenting the rise of another – the new American empire. The United States is “sowing disorder across the world by seeking to build an empire,” he said. “World leadership by a single power, and what followed? What has followed are unilateral actions, what has followed are wars, what has followed is ignoring the U.N. Security Council, ignoring international law and ignoring the will of the people, even the American people. It is a massive strategic mistake: no single center can command the entire world, no one. Current America has made so many mistakes.” (Reuters: "Russia's Gorbachev says U.S. is sowing world disorder")

Ah yes, Gorbachev seems to have second thoughts on breaking up the Soviet Union and ending up with the American empire ruling the world. Gorbachev, who is deeply unpopular in Russia, now also risks to lose his credibility with his American friends. Although what he is saying now is right, it is too little too late. To his eternal shame, he left the world in the grip of the American empire. Destroying Soviet social imperialism was the right thing to do. But Gorbachev could have steered the Soviet Union back on the path of Marxist development instead of leaving the fate of Russia in the hand of a capitalist drunkard like Yeltsin.

Now, Gorbachev can lament as much as he likes. He had the power to destroy the Soviet empire, but he lacks the power to destroy the American empire. He is just shouting in the desert.