Hi Moose. I think it began after US foreign policy took on a confrontational tone around 2001. By 2003, the US was no longer a very popular place in the eyes of the rest of the world, but viewed as a bully. The US was not any longer the shining beacon of good.

Then there is the aspect that the economy in the country has not been so good for the working people. The stock traders have been doing OK, I guess. But most engineering trainees are more like the former than the latter in attitude, so standard of living prospects have not been as attractive.

Errrmmmmm you mean that the US only took on a confrontational policy in 2001???

Here was me wondering about Suiz, Cuban crisis, Cold war, Veitnam, Gulf war etc...

Blimey! what do YOU call confrontational?

As for ".... the shining beacon of good...."

I'm sorry I can't stop laughing......

John

Blimey mate, I'd resisted, but as you jumped first....I think this sums it up..

Plbmak, I'm waiting for America to wake up, then I'm going down into my nuclear bunker for the rest of the day!!!

Take care of things while I'm eeerrrrr resting / hiding won't you?

John

We need to get to Germany and dive into one of these!

Bunker

But in the Cold War, what percentage of the world really wanted the Soviets to establish totally authoritarian governments everywhere? How many in the world knew the Gulf War was a kind of entrapment operation?

Yah, shining beacon may be an idealization, but the US being a bad guy does not fit with the outpouring of support after 9-11. Up until that time, the US was still generally viewed as not beginning wars but responding to aggression whether that was accurate or not.

Up until 2001, the US was still seen as the land of relatively good opportunity. The reality is not the thing in question. Immigrants still had a lot of desire to stay after finishing up on their student visas. The tarnished image and poorer economic prospects after the .com bust lessened the attractiveness of staying.

What you say is true, and of course we are allied with the US, however we have a good healthy tradition of slanging off everybody impartially, especially our own gov.com, and we don't intend to stop now. Also, please remember that US citizens were willingly supporting the provisional IRA for years, right up to the time when a few horses got bombed in London, so we do see the hypocrisy factor.....

...where ther never is heard, a discouraging word....Whoops wrong decade. Its true that the USA has stepped on its ego from time to time but all and all its heart was in the right place, if not its head. Global economics have opened up opportunities in other parts of the world other than just the USA, so why would all the talent want to stay here? This is a good thing and all the more french fries (chips to our British friends) for me!

This is just my opinion based on anecdotal evidence but I think many engineers are employed as a result of manufacturing and manufacturing in the US is decreasing. Therefor the demand for engineers in the US is decreasing or at least growing at a slower rate than in the past.