One could in the past, honestly speak of mercantile empire, but that has NEVER been solely an American undertaking.
Today, the mercantile empire builders, are the State run enterprise such as comes from China & present day Russia.
If one wants to honestly speak of "empire" and hegemony seeking, than one needs to look honestly at the mercantile rulers of China today. They have become the running imperialistic dogs of capitalism, they so long accused the U.S., and the West as being.
The writer [Dmitry Shlapentokh] ends his piece talking about how China's expanding spending and influence in Africa will lead to China becoming wealthier in the long run, and how that isn't much noticed by many or most Americans;
This is completely understood by those competing for the White House, and none of the presidential candidates will tell the public about losing the "checkbook" war to China and the implications of the defeat, which might be more serious in the long run than American defeats in Iraq and Afghanistan. "
Our defeats in Iraq & Afghanistan??? Huh? The writer is projecting his fondest hopes perhaps???
In formulating this post, I went and dug up a few of Dmitry's other articles. (there are about a hundred, and additionally a few books) In one article, entitled;
So America is doing the itself, and the world a favor by being in Iraq, and Afghanistan, huh Dimtry? I mean, you made mention [in another article] that the Russians spoke favorably of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, in the beginning of that effort.
You know, my own father was right, way back when, back in the 1980's. The U.S. should not have been helping the "brave mujahadeen". We should have been helping the Soviets!
Dmitry! You talk a who-oole bunch. By doing so, you frequently end up talking out of both sides of your face, whether you realize that, or not.
I think “Empire” is more of an inflammatory phrase throughout the world than it is here because we exited from an empire and have no wish to create one. It is an irrelevant word.