So you’re willing to hurt yourself as long as your enemies also suffer? That’s... quite sad? But in any case: power today derives far more from other’s willing

So you’re willing to hurt yourself as long as your enemies also suffer? That’s... quite sad? But in any case: power today derives far more from other’s willingness to do what you want without being paid or threatened. That idea is called “soft power”, and it’s really how the US managed to lead the free world after WW2. Hollywood and the WTO did so well that all the hatred you got for Vietnam etc. didn’t cause any lasting damage. Those alliances are obviously gone now. With China now taking the lead even in free trade and climate change mitigation, the US is losing its seat at the table.