[SeekAndFind]

I never looked at America as an empire. Since when did we become one?

[GingisK]

As a specific culture, we have been murdered.

[laplata]

“I never looked at America as an empire. Since when did we become one”?

Right on!!

The USA will never be united again.

[Vermont Lt]

The first time we expanded out of our original colonies.

[MissEdie]

IMHO I’d say after WW2 when most of the world turned to us to solve their problems.
One thing I would disagree with the author on is his contention China isn’t looking to expand militarily past their borders. I have read articles about Chinese military posts being set up in Africa as well as there is speculation they are looking to set one up near the Caribbean.
I fear those amongst us who seek to destroy what we became are too arrogant and ignorant to realize the future they are going to create.

[Sans-Culotte]

I never looked at America as an empire. Since when did we become one?

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.

[seowulf]

I never looked at America as an empire. Since when did we become one?

Since about the time Horace Greeley said, "Go west young man."

[Levy78]

Seriously? We have ~800 bases throughout the world. Our currency is the worldMa reserve currency. I can go on and on.

[Flying Circus]

I think it can be easily argued we have been an imperial power for at least 70 years as we stepped into the role of world superpower at the end of WWII. The late 1890s could also be argued as the US became a colonial power after taking Spanish holdings as far away as the Philippines. Others look at the westward expansion under “manifest destiny” as imperialistic, even though we ultimately developed those areas with an American cultural identity and full and equal partnership as states.