Among its optimistic notes, the report projected life-improving technological breakthroughs in energy and other areas, and the likely "diminished appeal" of Islamic extremism, with al Qaida becoming an "aging group" that could "decay into marginality." Terrorism, however, likely will remain a threat, the report said.
The report, the fourth in a series that examines the forces that are driving international developments, was written by the U.S. National Intelligence Council, which is composed of the top U.S. intelligence analysts, with input from experts around the world.
The studies, which are timed to coincide with the advent of new administrations, aim "to stimulate strategic thinking" by incoming officials about how "the places, the personalities, the developments in their areas of responsibility" affect the wider world, NIC Chairman Thomas Fingar told a news briefing.
"It is not a prediction. We don't claim a crystal ball. We are not forecasting the future," Fingar said. "If one looks the problem(s) squarely in the eye, recognizes them, recognizes their causes, think about how they interact . . . it is not beyond the minds of human beings or political systems . . . to address and alleviate, if not solve, these problems over this timespan. We could have a better world, quite frankly."
I am sure some of the hard right knee jerk types will damn this thread and its report as anti-American.
Its not.
At the same time if we don't put aside hysterics and rhetoric and look the problems facing our nation and the world over the upcoming decades we will be doing our nation a grave disservice.
These problems exist... we have a hand in them just as surely we are affected by them and to ignore it and shout America right or wrong love it or leave it is just plain stupid...
I don't expect this thread to go a page without someone spouting such knee jerk rhetoric.
The most patriotic thing we can do is look at our nation free of blinders and see what is right with her as well as what is wrong and ask how can we make her better.
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