[Night Stalker]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: As for US imperialism, the US has never sought nor wanted an empire. The US, more than any other country, has willingly freed just about every piece of land it's ever gained dominion over. Again, read your history. American imperialism actually ended at the Pacific Ocean, when Manifest Destiny was fulfilled. We happen to sit on one of the nicest largest most untouched pieces of real estate on the planet, and we don't need more land. Plus, who needs the headache of managing an empire? The US model is to liberate, babysit, and then move out when democracy is established. Yes, like all nations the US tries to garner good deals with other nations and it strongly pursues its interests. But an empire - puh-lease.

Actually, you can see parallels between America's method of "spreading Democracy" and Rome's Empire. Rome, after setting up shop, basically made sure the trade revinues filtered back to Rome. Other than changing the currency, they let the out lying counties run themselves. They way, they didn't need to manage the Empire. It's part of the reason they split when it got too big. One region was doing something different from the other.

I'm not saying we are an Empire, but there are some parallels.