Americans’ muted reaction to the quarter-century anniversary of 9/11 reveals a waning zeal for the American imperial project. We tolerate it only because we believe it can’t end. But it can.
Taking territory and giving it to vassals does not, in fact, make one less of an empire. Britain had the East India Company running India yet it’d be ridiculous to say that India wasn’t part of the British Empire before the Raj. Also you get three guesses for why how America managed to extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Until they overthrow inconvenient regimes on the other side of the world for sport, then they become empires.
What makes an empire is using military to take over and hold large territories like China, Nazi Germany, or the USSR have done.
Like how the USA got Texas?
Before and during the year 1845? Yeah, like that.
Taking territory and giving it to vassals does not, in fact, make one less of an empire. Britain had the East India Company running India yet it’d be ridiculous to say that India wasn’t part of the British Empire before the Raj. Also you get three guesses for why how America managed to extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Oh wow we’re pulling out the late 18th century trivia, now?
Hows that Vassal state of Cuba working out?