Declining Stature, or Failed State Department

In a recent Swampland article, Joe Klein details how the United States is becoming increasingly ignored overseas:

[1][T]he Iraqis [are] turning to China and Iran to construct electric power plants. This is particularly significant because America's inability to provide electricity in Iraq has been, for average Iraqis, the most infuriating daily evidence of our ineptitude...[2]Russian President Putin [is] offering a new alliance--and a new idea to resolve the nuclear situation--to the Iranians...[3]Turkey [is] empowering its army to move against the Kurdish guerrillas[.]

One of the commenters adds:

I recently heard Byron Wein speak. He contrasted a visit to China this year with a visit two or three years ago. On his previous visit, everyone he met wanted to talk about America; it was almost always the first topic of conversation. On his recent visit, America came up a bit, but less than Europe--despite the fact they were talking to an American. In his words, America has become "just another country". Americans still believe in American exceptionalism and in his judgement, Europeans and Asians did until recently, but that is rapidly fading.