The USA as a country has (and had) interests and possessions all over the world, and has exerted its power and influence in organizations like NATO and the UN. By assuming the role of "the world's policeman" and "superpower", the USA is/was an empire of influence.
Rome was an empire even while it was a republic. It expanded and had interests from Rome itself throughout all Italy and on into France and Spain and to Africa and the east. It didn't have emperors yet, but would have been considered an empire nonetheless. When they defeated Carthage they virtually owned the Mediterranean as an empire would.
RE: The USA as a country has (and had) interests and possessions all over the world, and has exerted its power and influence in organizations like NATO and the UN. By assuming the role of “the world’s policeman.
Here’s an interesting question... many people have been complaining that instead of spending $700 billion on weapons and military technology ( more than the top 10 militaries in the world combined ), the USA should be spending that money on our poor, homeless and healthcare.
In other words, let other countries pay for their own defense. Europe, Israel, South Korea and Japan are rich enough to defend themselves.
What’s the response to this argument?