Friction in U.S. foreign policy

The United States is so culturally blind by virtue of its successful "New World" experience of assimilating foreign cultures that it is unable to recognize the possibility that there are viable competing ideologies to American ideals for the world, including the Islamic world, China, and Latin America. If the United States were more "street smart" on the world scene, it could better identify nuanced subtleties and better leverage allies, who, in turn, are better positioned to further American ideals abroad.