Doubts were particularly strong among Russians, whose feelings ranged from confidence that they had won a historic victory over communism and put an end to an obsolete system and senseless confrontation to deep disappointment at their catastrophically diminished standing in the world.
But Fish thinks humanities professors bear some blame for their diminished standing.
The NRL must understand that if it does not reflect the attitudes of the masses or represent the values of society, it invites the spectre of diminished standing.
As for the Clintons, both Bill and Hillary can expected to be in high demand on the campaign trail -- especially with Obama's diminished standing.
Opponents of the proposal say the document will only solidify the president's power and erode the economically struggling country's already diminished standing with foreign investors.
But opponents say the document would only solidify the president's power and, with its provisions for seizing white farmers' land without compensation, erode Zimbabwe's already diminished standing in eyes of foreign investors and donors.
As president, the oratorically-challenged Mr Bush has avoided torture by television, and his decision to subject himself to an hour of grilling on "Meet The Press" reflects the White House's view that he had to counter his recently diminished standing.
He was admitted to the Betty Ford clinic for treatment for his alcohol and drug abuse, and his other 80s credits, such as Lobster Man from Mars (1989), revealed his diminishing standing.
The world could only wonder at the contrast between a diminished Bush standing confused at the bottom of the Treasury stairs, and a confident, knowledgeable, and forceful Obama leading a meaningful and purposeful press conference, in full command of the facts.
Like the sinking of the submarine Kursk, the disaster delivered another blow to the nation's diminishing standing as a technological power of the first rank.
