[akkartik]

For one, it's alluding to other countries but not really holding up the US in much of the article.

Second, this quote at the end:

> Consequently, I suspect Russia is not the only paper tiger out there; the forest is likely to be full of them.. the exceptions are likely to be.. or because they form the backbone of an international system which requires that someone carry a big stick (the United States).

[pdonis]

Ah, I see; you're not sure the big stick is actually as big as the article assumes. Yes, fair point.