Is the end of the USA really near?

Question

MOSCOW -- For a decade, Russian academic Igor Panarin has been predicting the U.S. will fall apart in 2010. For most of that time, he admits, few took his argument -- that an economic and moral collapse will trigger a civil war and the eventual breakup of the U.S. -- very seriously. Now he's found an eager audience: Russian state media.

In recent weeks, he's been interviewed as much as twice a day about his predictions. "It's a record," says Prof. Panarin. "But I think the attention is going to grow even stronger."

Prof. Panarin, 50 years old, is not a fringe figure. A former KGB analyst, he is dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry's academy for future diplomats. He is invited to Kremlin receptions, lectures students, publishes books, and appears in the media as an expert on U.S.-Russia relations.

But it's his bleak forecast for the U.S. that is music to the ears of the Kremlin, which in recent years has blamed Washington for everything from instability in the Middle East to the global financial crisis. Mr. Panarin's views also fit neatly with the Kremlin's narrative that Russia is returning to its rightful place on the world stage after the weakness of the 1990s, when many feared that the country would go economically and politically bankrupt and break into separate territories.

A polite and cheerful man with a buzz cut, Mr. Panarin insists he does not dislike Americans. But he warns that the outlook for them is dire.

"There's a 55-45% chance right now that disintegration will occur," he says. "One could rejoice in that process," he adds, poker-faced. "But if we're talking reasonably, it's not the best scenario -- for Russia." Though Russia would become more powerful on the global stage, he says, its economy would suffer because it currently depends heavily on the dollar and on trade with the U.S.

Mr. Panarin posits, in brief, that mass immigration, economic decline, and moral degradation will trigger a civil war next fall and the collapse of the dollar. Around the end of June 2010, or early July, he says, the U.S. will break into six pieces -- with Alaska reverting to Russian control.

More:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051100709638419.html


I want to state that this is NOT my opinion, just an article I found. I would like to know what you think about this?

Alfred l · Accepted Answer

Don´t believe that. Igor Panarin only wants to destroy US in the order of Russia.

woko51 · Answer

I haven't heard Mr. Panarin's statement or prediction.
But I believe in the consequence, maybe not that rapidly as he predicts.
But I strongly believe in the final collapse of the 200-year-old "historical accident" (not MY quote) U.S.A. who by some unknown reason thinks its stolen, bought and war-won country is in God's hands.

All power states collapsed one day. The US has always lived above its means, by borrowing or "making" money in all the possible meanings.
Has brought bombs and others to a few countries in the world, like Germany, Korea, Vietnam, always under the pretence of doing something good. It has always pledged inrenational immunity for its soldiers - as they are only good-doers and something like the world police, following the powerful men in the background who have their marionette presidents and other politicians.

It has incredibly been damaging the environment and abusing of energy.

Well, the only political system that had a come-back is the Chinese.
I wonder if the US will have one in a few 1000 years.
Russia is a big grown Country, but as the 1917 revolution shows it can be shattered easily, too many different peoples, too big, too little coherence, be it the former USSR or the now "Russia". Russians were once a small tribe "Rus" who settled in the west of what's now Russia.

The future will be in Asia (China) and Europe.

Africa the cradle of men is doomed to die. I am not too optimistic about South America either.

Alby · Answer

All Empires eventually fall - Roman, Austro-Hungarian, British, Mogul, all dead and buried.  Currently we all live under a US Empire, if not physically, certainly economically, as supported by the saying that "if the US sneezes, the world catches a cold".

So history suggests Mr Panarin has a point; but whether or not the fall of the US is imminent is moot. Only time will tell.

I would, in any case, welcome a rebuilding of Russia's former might, because there are two sides to every story, but the existence currently of only one true super power, the US, results in only one side being addressed. This inevitably leads to heightened animosity between nations - Israel/Palestine/Lebanon/syria, Iran, North Korea being examples of problems areas that could be brought to heel by two super powers sometimes working together, sometimes opposing each other.

annie · Answer

Hello there, Am I amazed that soldiers died in combat. No. It happens. I lost friends in Vietnam. My father was at Corregidor, Scarlet Beach, Luzon and Leyte. He knows all to well that soldiers die in combat. He knows what those soldiers go through and feels for them and their families. We both know how much the soldier sacrifices in order that you and I can enjoy all we hold dear. No, I am not amazed that soldiers die in combat. I amazed how little some people appreciate it. Good luck,

Barracuda · Answer

It won't be that bad, but it will be bad. I could see it happening.

America is one of the most unstable countries in the world. I've known it ever since I moved here. The people are seriously unhappy all the time.

Go to Canada if you don't believe me. America is the exception, not the rule.

Anonym · Answer

Anyone who thinks California is going to be majority-Chinese soon is not living in the same planet I'm living.

Ansar A · Answer

I think it not end but its going to start.Till now USA was too proud.Now Mr.Obama is going to open the real face of Amrican.In fact they have no culture.

NewBeeDood · Answer

the usa is not near its end
its just that other countries are catching up
and we have to recover from this economic depression
and our govt. had to wake their lazy asses up
and do something productive for once

Ten GROmmandments · Answer

oh damn!  i better start buying gold bars!

Is the end of the USA really near?

9 Antworten