““During the Cold War, the Soviet Union never could accomplish that because it was a resource exporter and was in competition with these countries. Consequently, it had little to offer economically and, instead, offered guns and ideology. The U.S. used to be the supplier of goods and buyer of resources but, as its manufacturing base has shrunk, it has been increasingly displaced by China. That places the U.S. in a weaker position versus China than it was versus the Soviet Union.””
