to asia? remember the basic argument behind the pivot was that the united states was overinvested in the middle east a crisis-prone region of dwindling importance to the american national interest. asia, on the other hand is the world's future of the world's four largest economies three are in asia if measured by purchasing power parity. as lee kwan yu often told me america will remain the dominant power in the 21st century only if it is the dominant pacific power. and yet the united states is once more up to its neck in the middle eastern morass. president obama and john kerry spent little time in asia. few new initiatives have been announced. the transpacific partnership, a trade deal that was at the heart of the pivot, faces a tough road in congress despite the fast track agreement reached this week. the opposition comes mostly from the president's own party.