It's interesting that you mention this theory, Mike.  I, like so many of us, have pondered why the sole superpower in the world is not mentioned in End Times Prophecy.
 
There must be a reason why the United States does nothing in the End Times that is significant enough to be mentioned in the scriptures.
 
Neutral?  Not likely.
 
Non-existent?  Maybe.
 
How about, insignificant?
 
That's my theory.  Like the potential catastrophes you mention, there are many potential threats to this country.  In addition to the ones you mentioned, there are also the threats from the Yellowstone Caldera, the Mississippi fault line, of course the San Andreas.
 
And there are other threats too.  The Ramadan Offensive is something to worry about... it's a question of when, not if, we get hit by another terror strike.  This time, however, Bin Laden will have to make sure that the US is INCAPABLE of retaliating.  They knocked down a few building and planes, along with 3000 people, and we invaded two countries, decimated and/or seriously disrupted Al Queda, eliminated two terror-friendly regimes (and their resources.)  When Bin Laden, or his followers, strike again, they have to ensure that there is no retaliation.
 
We have Korea with an itchy trigger-finger.  We have China doing joint military training with Russia and salivating over an opportunity to take Taiwan.  Iran's nuke plant.
 
Not to mention internal struggles with our own civilization: the degradation of our moral society, financial turmoil and looming financial crisis', power struggles, and attempts to un-do our very way of life from the inside out.
 
All that scares me.  Especially since I haven't had kids yet.  I believe that the US is on the verge, if it hasn't already, of losing God's protection.
 
I believe that a mixture of natural disasters and manmade (if you can call Bin Laden 'man') disasters may very well knock the US into third-world status.  I'm afraid that a couple of hurricanes and an earthquake or tidal wave may give China the motivation to finally attack Taiwan thinking that the US is too busy with their own problems.  At the same time, it would be a perfect time to launch a terror strike as the added chaos would disallow the US to retaliate.
 
Thus, after all is said and done and after the dust settles... the US becomes irrelevant in world affairs.
 
As soon as that happens, Israel is on their own.  There is no way Israel lets Iran's nuke plant go online (a Russian-made nuke plant, by the way.)  Israel attacks the plant, the next day, Syria, Egypt, Iran, et al, seize on the opportunity to attack Israel with no threat of US intervention.  Gog and Magog.
 
NOW add in the Rapture.  You take a decimated country, that is one of, if not the most Christian nation on the face of the earth, and take out all the Christians.  What you have left is a bunch of God-less and desperate people looking for someone to follow.  Millions across the planet disappear.
 
World-wide chaos, panic, disaster, war, famine, disease...
 
And history has proven that out of ashes arises leaders.  A leader that will (apparently and temporarily) solve all of the world's problems.
 
That, in my mind, is a very plausible scenario.  Am I right?  Of course not.  Am I close?  Maybe.  Is the Rapture soon?  Count on it.
 
Christ, please give us the confidence and resolve to trust in your plan and to remember that this world is yours.  That in the end, you will triumph.  Let us be with you in your kingdom.
 
- Andrew