This piece, though ostensibly describing the views of foreigners, addresses our concern as Americans about our own reputation.  Much of it seems premised on the notion that foreigners may be coming to view us as wimps.  There is another possibility, however.  And that is that they have come to see us as bullies, prone to resort to force rather than diplomacy when problems arise.  The latter possibility puts a whole different face on Obama's hesitation to go to war with Syria.

• THE SATURDAY ESSAY
• September 13, 2013,

America, Syria and the World

How is President Obama's turnaround on Syria playing abroad? Seven views from around the globehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323595004579069452022413522.html