NIC Report Foresees U.S. Power Weakening In The Next 20 Years

November 21, 2008 6:35 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The United States, like the European Union, will substantially lose its economic, military and political might within the next 17 years, according to the U.S. National Intelligence Council. In the NIC's Global Trends report issued Thursday, as the American star dims, China, India and Russia will continue their geopolitical rise.

By 2025, the NIC foresees the greenback will no longer be the world's major currency, while lack of food and water will lead to conflicts in the U.S.

Washington will keep its vast military strength, but because of scientific and technological advances, the use of irregular warfare methods, the wider use of long-range precision armaments and cyber warfare will limit the U.S.' freedom of action.

But the U.S. "will remain the single most important actor but will be less dominant," according to the NIC.

Also expected to weaken in influence is the al Qaeda sooner than expected because it will become more unpopular in Islamic nations where it usually takes the life of its victims.

"The prospect that al Qaeda will be among the small number of groups able to transcend the generational timeline is not high, given its harsh ideology, unachievable strategic objectives and inability to become a mass movement," the report said.