I still don't see the problem.

The article is trying to assert a problem that doesn't really exist.

Trade deficits are also an issue overblown for political reasons, IMO.

The USA would still be a defacto currency even if we didn't prop up the gulf states

The fact that DeGaulle would try to undermine us based on gold is exactly a reason to NOT have a gold standard. That and the fact that under a gold standard the economy cannot grow because the money supply gets tight.