US loses some of its sheen as world leader

At the height of the war in Afghanistan, American influence around the globe looked unquestioned and ascendant. The nation's standing was bolstered by the world's near-universal rejection of the terrorism used against Americans, and by the clarity of how and why the US would respond.

But a lack of clarity on more recent events in two regions of keen interest to the United States – the Middle East and Latin America – have dealt a blow to the clout and prestige of the United States.

The lost luster could well affect America's diplomacy and maneuverability in the international arena. How the Bush administration responds will influence not just America's image but such tangible goals as continued successes in the war on terror.

The response will also provide clues about which ideological camps are up in the White House and which are down. Some observers see recent muddled actions as a sign of the resurgence of ideological divides and personality conflicts that have coursed through the administration since before the war in Afghanistan.

"The Bush administration has watered down policies that began from a point of view of moral clarity," says Andrew Bacevich, director of the Center for International Relations at Boston University. He cites "mixed messages" the US is sending in the Middle East and Latin America, in the latter case referring to the US response to the attempted coup earlier this month in Venezuela.

"We're seeing the old rifts that were driven underground last fall reasserting themselves," he says. "But the basic fault lines are the same." Those divisions are over going it alone versus international cooperation, and over pursuing strategic interests versus upholding principles.

Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also says that "differences of opinion within the administration" about how to pursue the war on terrorism after Afghanistan – differences primarily focused on Iraq – are now extending to other policies and areas. The differing views have pitted the Pentagon against the State Department, says the Delaware Democrat.

At a personality level, some say, the contrasts are most pronounced between Secretary of State Colin Powell and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz. Mr. Wolfowitz's appearance last week at a pro-Israel rally in Washington, just as Mr. Powell was in the Mideast trying to play the even-handed go-between, raised some eyebrows here and around the world.

In the Middle East, the US is sending mixed signals following Secretary Powell's 10-day mission, during which he was unable to secure either a cease-fire or a rapid move to talks on political issues.

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