[SoCal Pubbie]

When did we annex the Philippines? Last time I looked they were an independant country. It was a Spanish possession which we took control of after the Spanish-American war, but it wasn’t part of our territorial system for very long in historical terms.

[Dr. Sivana]

but it wasn’t part of our territorial system for very long in historical terms.

I didn't say we had it for long, but we did go over there when our beef with Spain really had nothing to do with the Philippines. The folks there declared independence from Spain and we took them anyway. 20-30+ years (depending on how you count the time line) is long enough if you were living there at the time.

It certainly isn't like the Louisiana Purchase, or even the Panama Canal, which we got on favorable terms partly in exchange for Panama getting its independence (which they should be grateful for now) and a hit of cash combined with a permanent asset that we provided for them.