Drawing parallels with the end of the Roman empire, Mr Walker warned there were “striking similarities” between America’s current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, including “declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government”.

At least we have our McDonalds and American Idol! All Rome had was bread and circuses!

FT.com / World - Learn from the fall of Rome, US warned