[Warren Buffett, the so-called Sage of Omaha (and the world's wealthiest investor), reputedly lost $310 million in the first quarter of this year betting that the US dollar would fall. On the other hand, he is said to have made masses of money on the same bet last year. When asked about the dollar, Buffett admits he can't say whether its value will be up or down a year from now, but is confident it will be down over five years. As long-time Japan watcher Clyde Prestowitz points out in this article, Buffett is not at all alone. George Soros, Bill Gates and many others with plenty of cash to absorb even immense losses, are patiently waiting for America's overheating structural problems - especially the huge and expanding budget and trade deficits - to melt more wax from the still high-flying dollar's wings.