The Empire Strikes Back
W are going to discuss going forward some of our broader investment themes. One of those themes is the economic advantages that accrues to us by the United States being able to exercise power or "Imperium" in many dimensions all around the globe. How we act may not be considered imperial in the classical sense or in the way you learned about it in history books with countries having colonies and such. Also, I'll not wade into the debate on whether we are an "Empire" as most would define it,. However, it is difficult to deny that American hard, soft and economic power is far reaching. If you accept Stratfor's historic definition of our power as "the United States {being by} far the largest economic power, with complete control of the sea, bases around the world and a dynamic trade and investment system that {benefits} countries that were strategically critical to the United States or at least able to take advantage of it," then it becomes easier to understand how that power is welded.
The United States is often called the "global police". Yesterday that cop busted down the door on FIFA, the world football {soccer}organization. Bloomberg View covered that extensively here, here and here. The amounts involved are staggering, alleged to run in the hundreds of millions of dollars and goes back decades. It is also likely the tip of the iceberg. The Americans only went after targets where they believe they have jurisdiction. The case will have legs, not only because soccer is globally the most popular sport. It will have legs because the global cop has said enough is enough and it's time for somebody to force FIFa to clean up its act.
There's no money to be made on this today by either you or me. FIFA doesn't trade on any exchange. But it is an example of the power and global colossus that America has become and there is money to be made off of that theme both now and in the future.
Back early next week.
posted by CR English at 9:28 AM
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