It all goes back to former CIA Director George H W Bush grasping the brass ring of sole superpower and global hegemony after the fall of the USSR.
The reaction of other nations and cultures, ranging from outright opposition to passive aggressive behavior, was entirely predictable.
You sure got that right! But, don't forget his son that came along in 2000. He sure did his part to carry on the tradition.
Also, I'm not too sure it was "passive," as noted by a few of the military and covert invasions noted below....
-Iraq
-Afghanistan
-Serbia
-Libya