Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.
Abraham Lincoln
I'm not sure if you remember a time when everybody knew Japan would be the most powerful economy in the world? I don't think Japan since the 90's has been a good example when it comes to many things and for the record never a former enemy offered a hand of friendship like the USA did with Japan and helped him recover from WW2.
The same system of lending (Marshall Plan) money was applied to 3rd world countries for decades, unfortunately with different results because of lack of work ethic, corruption, no social mobility, etc.
It's called the Homeless Industrial Complex.