The great benefit for the rest of the world is America's religious fundamentalism getting hold of the reins of power. As throughout history, those reins are then pulled tight and the forward momentum is lost. Meanwhile, other countries not reined in by bigotry and ignorance forge ahead. Unfortunately history also shows that dying empires don't usually go quietly and the Middle Eastern operations of the present time are just the first death throes of a doomed Empire. We have to hope that not too many of us suffer from the thrashing tail.