Trudy Rubin

At a time when America's economy is hurting, Republican presidential hopefuls call for "restoring American greatness."

So why are Republicans in Congress bent on policies that would hasten U.S. decline?

America's strengths -- which made it the unchallenged global leader -- were based on democratic institutions and economic successes. Other nations sought to copy our economic and political systems because they worked better than any other model. That's what was famously known as our "soft power."

LONDON -- Abdullah Anas, a jovial, bearded onetime Algerian imam, was a close colleague of Osama bin Laden in the jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan. He considered bin Laden a friend, but broke with him over the slaughter of innocents on 9/11. Today, Anas thinks al-Qaida's grip on the minds of radical Muslim youth is finally ending.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Flying out of this city in a Blackhawk helicopter, one passes over a large walled compound that contains a traditional two-story Afghan house built around a courtyard, in which sits a small white-domed mosque.

This once was the home base of the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, from which he ruled most of the country. Now called Camp Gecko, and crammed with many added buildings, it is a base for U.S. special forces and -- as any Kandahari will tell you -- the CIA.

Will the killing of Osama bin Laden really be "a game-changer" in the Afghan war?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said it may be. And this is the big question I'll be exploring on a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Few of the revolts shaking the Arab world look likely to produce democratic governments in the near term. But even those states with the best chance of improving politically are facing a daunting economic challenge: Can new Arab democracies deliver the economic goods -- in time?

Everyone has heard of the young people who made a revolution in Egypt. But few Americans know their names and faces, or how they managed to organize the protests that ousted a pharaoh in 18 days.

During my recent visit to Cairo I talked with top leaders of the groups that organized the original Jan. 25 protest. Ranging in age from 22 to 32, they include an accountant, a surgeon, an engineer, and a marketing expert. All graduated from major universities (although only one spoke fluent English).

Chinese President Hu Jintao is coming to Washington amid much gnashing of teeth over whether Chinese power is growing as U.S. might wanes.

The Chinese military clearly feels empowered. Beijing has gotten more aggressive with Japan and Southeast Asian nations over claims to disputed territory. China has also failed to rein in its ally, nuclear-armed North Korea, whose bizarre behavior threatens the region.