We are that evil empire today :-(
“Are we the baddies?”
There are many evil empires on the planet.
Russia, China, North Korea are high class in that area...
The Unites States is gangrened by an evil institution mosty managed by a new wave of Democrats. There are not many decent Democrats left. Even a minority of Republicans have been contaminated.
For Russia,, China, N. Kora, IRAN... its too late... there is no hope for freedom for their citizens anymore. It’s over. They have become systemic evil empires.
America still has a number of peaceful ways to get rid of its evil institution though - so there is hope for America. That’s why it’s not en evil empire yet.