Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

they've got high expectations for America, and they want America to lead.

Oh, how depressingly wrong. Putting on my more anti-American hat than usual to tap into the sentiment here (which does not entirely accurately reflect my own personal beliefs on the subject), no, we don't want you to lead. We want you to stop doing what you refer to as "leading," and stop interfering with other countries' legitimate governments to serve US interests; we want you to stop acting as though, in world affairs, there are two sets of rules: one for you, and one for everyone else. (Or maybe three sets of rules -- one for you, one for your friends, and one for your enemies.) In other words, we'd like a little bit less of your acting like a global empire, which is especially galling, since you also like to go around talking about how you're a bastion of freedom and democracy in the world and the last, best hope of humankind, or something (values I do not find to be entirely consistent with the de facto proclamations of a seat of empire). A little less persistent exceptionalism on your part would be damn nice, too. You folks put on your pants one leg at a time, just like the rest of us, you know.

If non-US people have "high expectations" of the US, they're probably along the lines of us wanting you to obey international law and stop meddling in other people's politics so much. We're, uh, kind of sore on this stuff especially of late (thank you Shrubbie).