I took part this autumn in filming for an episode of Al Jazeera English's Empire considering the nature and status of US "power" in the 21st century. I am not sure if even a dedicated 45 minutes, with four studio guests and six interviewees, provides the answers --- the presenter concludes, "America's national emblem and the symbol of its strength, the bald eagle, might be fierce and majestic but it's the funny Mickey Mouse that rules with his red shorts, yellow shoes and white gloves" --- but I think there is lots here to consider about the tension between American "exceptionalism" and the position of the US in the world today: