[kosta50]

Mark, I don't have a problem with a superpower exerting its might over the world, it's the way we lie about it that is wrong. Why can't we just tell the truth?

Manifest Destiny was a state of mind. Its original coast-to-coast vision later morphed, perhaps under a different name, different doctrine, all the way up to the present day. Mad Albright's "indispensable nation" -- the one the world cannot do without is an extension of the same belief. Faith-based politics and biblical undertones are indeed "providential," just as the original one was.

I have heard about our alleged "ineptness" at being colonizers. Even a man I respect a lot, Pat Buchanan, seems to think so. But, we were colonizers. Just ask the Filipinos. Taking the Philipines from Spain was easy. Taking it from the Filipinos was not. After much bloodshed, we prevailed. Whatever our motives were, please don't tell me we colonized the Philipines to "liberate" the Filipinos.

There is nothing inept about our military taking high ground on its terms. The American people, not our government, are inept at being good colonizers. We have compassion for the needy and the weak. We are also very generous. I remember in Bosnia the Task Force Eagle issued orders to shoot stray dogs, and the American military refused. Many of them took care of the pups, often using their own antibiotic creams to heal their wounds. The locals tried to tell everyone the dogs were "viscious." The dogs knew better!

Imperialism is a policy. Its about government, and not American people. Imperialism is being above international law. Imperialism is doing what I please, when I please and how I please and not be accountable to anyone. Only empires behave like that, but we don't want to face that truth. We see ourselves as compassionate people who could not possibly be imperialists. So, we always need a "just cause" to do what we really don't like to do. And the government and its presstitutes provide us with noble lies, something both are very good at.

No politicians will get your support if he says "Go fight for my oil!" or "Your taxes are going up, suck it up!" Politicians have to tell lies to get elected. It comes with a job, and I don't trust liars. Only fools do.

[mark502inf]

Kosta, again--the facts on the ground belie your accusations of imperialism. Where is the empire? You use the Philippines as an example, but it proves the opposite--within a few years after our arrival, the fighting was over (except for the Moros--whose goal was Islamic separatism, not anti-imperialist revolution) and soon afterward the Philippines had their own legislature and substantial self-government with a date set for complete independence--and that date was met.
As you said, imperialism is a policy--the essence of which is the expansion of a nation's dominion. What kind of imperial power releases possessions, withdraws from areas and countries where it has had military dominance, and does not take advantage of its overwhelming power to conquer or annex much weaker states right on its door-step? Objectively, USA behavior is simply not consistent with a policy of imperialism.

Nice comments about the American people; however, I believe our government is closer to a reflection of our people's traits than, apparently, you do.