WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- In February 2002 former President Bill Clinton told an audience in Australia, "This is a unique moment in U.S. history, a brief moment in history, when the U.S. has preeminent military, economic and political power. It won't last forever. This is just a period, a few decades this will last."

Clinton repeated his astonishing assessment of America's future when he told the Washington Post's Dean Balz, "In all probability, we won't be the premier political and economic power we are now."

The former Chief Executive reportedly framed his remarks in the context of the growing economic power of China and the European Union.

Clinton also said, "Whether the United States maintains its military supremacy depends in part on how much those other entities invest in their militaries."

Clinton defensively added, "I never advocated that we not have the strongest military in the world ... I don't think a single soul has thought I was advocating scaling back our military."

Clinton's statements run counter to his actions, however, as it was the Clinton administration that reduced military spending during the 1990s.

America's sovereignty would have been ceded to international bodies had the Senate ratified the Kyoto accords and the International Criminal Court. The Clinton administration signed those agreements, but the Bush administration withdrew support for both treaties.