Zimbabwe had eighty percent of its industrial capacity wiped out from civil war, and it had its debts denominated in US dollars, which is what caused the hyperinflation. As they printed money, it wasn't being off-out by an increase in real goods and services, which is what caused hyperinflation. All US debts are denominated in US dollars, so the US will always be able to pay its debts.
You're sort of right, Kimura...but if you really think about it...you're completely wrong. Yes, the US can always pay it's debts by printing more dollars. But the people who loan us the money to keep our ship of state afloat aren't stupid...if the value of a dollar decreases then the cost of the loan will be adjusted to reflect that. Our creditors are not going to loan us billions in currency that's worth something only to have us turn around and pay them back in currency that isn't. So yes...we will be able to "pay" our debts but nobody will will oan us money if we don't repay them with something that's worth their investment. This concept that we can keep on doing what we're doing now and somehow wave a "magic economic wand" in the air and have it all work out is amusing.
The US government doesn't have to borrow that which it creates as the sovereign issuer of the currency. We really aren't 'loaned' money. The federal government spends/creates money by writing Treasury checks or by crediting private, commercial bank accounts. For example, when the Chinese purchase US Treasuries, it uses dollars that come from government spending itself. Those dollars had to come from somewhere. Treasuries are basically glorified savings accounts at the end of the day. In point of fact, all bond sales do is drain excess reserves in the banking system, that's about it.
Please, when the Chinese purchase US Treasury notes they are loaning us money! Trying to say that they aren't is just absurd.