The US Empire today is in the midst of a long-term decline, during which it has suffered a series of costly defeats. In addition, Washington has assumed long-term burdensome commitments to allies who have imposed their own ambitions of seeking ‘mini empires’ (Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia).
The US White House has increasingly adopted a military definition of ‘imperial leadership’ at the expense of reconfiguring imperial relations to accommodate potential new political and economic partners.
As the empire slides, the political elite, operating with a highly militarized mind set, has expanded its intrusive global intelligence networks to spy on allies, adversaries and its own citizens. Washington has risked deepening hostilities among key allies (Germany and Brazil) and exacerbating conflicts with conciliatory competitors (Russia) by refusing to curtail its massive espionage. Spying is a clear hostile act and part of the policy of military-driven empire building.
Empires Depend on Alliances
The entire edifice of the US Empire, like the earlier British Empire, is sustained through a series of complex alliances.
US military forces are injected into a country to orient and ensure that local military and police forces efficiently control their population and become available as mercenaries to fight overseas wars for the US Empire.
