ElexiblevarietyhasallalongbeenahallmarkofAmerica’sglobalstrategywithdifferentiatedtreatmentforspecificnations.Inthenewcentury,Washingtonpidesthemajorworldforcesintofourcategoriesinlightofacomprehensivecrite-rionofwhethertheyhavebeenfusedintotheinternationalsystem,aregoingto-warddemocracyorbenefitworldstability.Theyinclude:insidersorallies(EuropeandJapan),marginalizedones(someunderdevelopedAfricannations),outsidersor"rogues"(Iraq,NorthKorea)andfinally,travelersonthewayor"transitionstates".InterpretationsbyU.S.strategicreportsdefinethe"transitionstates"as