It was a heckuva party, Chuckie boy. Too bad you're four years late.

America finds itself in a dangerous and isolated position in the world. We are perceived as a nation at war with Muslims. Unfortunately, that perception is gaining credibility in the Muslim world and for many years will complicate America's global credibility, purpose and leadership. This debilitating and dangerous perception must be reversed as the world seeks a new geopolitical, trade and economic center that will accommodate the interests of billions of people over the next 25 years. The world will continue to require realistic, clear-headed American leadership -- not an American divine mission.

Where he gets the perception America is the ordained (realistic, clear-headed, yada yada) leader of the world, Chuck Hagel, a senator (R) from Nebraska, does not explain in his otherwise blindingly obvious Washington Post OpEd.