Is the United States an Empire?

DragonFireOKN · Apr 13, 2008 7:21 PM

Is the U.S.A really the Imperial States of America under King Bush II? (That was a joke)

Now, the definition of an empire is a country that is ruled by a single force that has control of lands outside of its own borders. Techically, the U.S. has military bases in 50 of the world's countries. True, the U.S. is a democracy, but for how long?

Historically, most powerful republics have become empires eventually. Most notably, Rome. Before Augustus Caesar took control, Rome was a republic. After the senate was involved with too many wars outside of Italy, a change was needed. Nowadays, the U.S. has been at war for the last 40 years. (Perhaps longer with different countries.) Is the U.S. an empire?

Doppelgangergang · Apr 13, 2008 7:24 PM

NO. But maybe it will.

They may have bases seeded all over the globe BUT they do NOT have control over the country the base is situated.

They will, however, become an empire if they somehow convince the others to join them by diplomacy and peace or otherwise.

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 13, 2008 7:49 PM

Not sure are there any states outside of the continant? I think its an empire if it has control of coutries outside of its own. The UK and the US were both Empires when they had 'control' over countries in Africa, though I have never been a history person.

DragonFireOKN · Apr 13, 2008 8:25 PM

Look at Iraq, the U.S. is basically controlling the citizens, but that is temporary.

Spyro · Apr 13, 2008 9:13 PM

You know like every single solitary established country controls lands outside its borders and has military bases in other countries? France has bases in other countries along with Germany and Britain has many commonwealths it controls. Are they all empires, too?

Doppelgangergang · Apr 13, 2008 9:15 PM

Spyro wrote:

You know like every single solitary established country controls lands outside its borders and has military bases in other countries? France has bases in other countries along with Germany and Britain has many commonwealths it controls. Are they all empires, too?

Which agrees with my point. Having bases on other countries is a kind of "Diplomatic Agreement."

DragonFireOKN · Apr 13, 2008 11:02 PM

Not all U.S. bases are wanted. North Korea doesn't want us there. Vietnam doesn't want us there. We went there by force.

Spyro_Loves_Me · Apr 14, 2008 6:31 AM

But we didn't go there by force to conquer North Korea or Vietnam. We fought in Korea to protect the South's rights and stop the spread of Communism.
And that also goes with the Middle East. We're not over there to conquer and destroy. If we're destroying anything, it's terrorism. That's why we're fighting.

pur · Apr 14, 2008 6:09 PM

Spyro wrote:

You know like every single solitary established country controls lands outside its borders and has military bases in other countries? France has bases in other countries along with Germany and Britain has many commonwealths it controls. Are they all empires, too?

Ah...

Lancer232 · Apr 14, 2008 11:35 PM

I don't think that the USA is the ISA...yet. If we have more Bushes in the White House (get it?) it might. But yea, we're not going into those countries tanks blazing and A. Bombs dropping, we're going in as peaceful as we can. And the only place lible to become a state outside of the US (aside Hawaii) is (either Puerto Rico or Costa Rica, I forgot which was the island off of the coast of Florida).

DragonFireOKN · Apr 15, 2008 1:06 AM

Don't forget the phillipines, we control them and they're halfway around the world. It won't be long until Russia and the U.S.A enter a new "cold war" Russia is financing Iran's nuclear facilities, and the U.S.A and Iran HATE each other. If Iran invaded Israel, the U.S would back Israel and Russia would back Iran. Two words, not good. Russia, China, North Korean, Iran vs. U.S.A, Israel, U.K, South Korea, Japan.

Lancer232 · Apr 15, 2008 1:08 AM

^AKA World War III...and possibly the End of the World. I hope this will never happen though...I don't want to be turned into radioactive powder!

Doppelgangergang · Apr 15, 2008 2:34 AM

DragonFireOKN wrote:

Don't forget the phillipines, we control them and they're halfway around the world.

No, they are already independent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of … _expansion

Wikipedia wrote:

Former possessions
US has voluntarily left some of its overseas territories and they have gained independence. Cuba (1902), the Philippines (1946), the Panama Canal Zone (1979), the Federated States of Micronesia (1986), Marshall Islands (1986), and Palau (1994) are examples.

---

Lancer232 wrote:

^AKA World War III...and possibly the End of the World. I hope this will never happen though...I don't want to be turned into radioactive powder!

Me? I don't want it to happen. But if I turn into a dragon by then, I am so out of here!

A Guy · Apr 15, 2008 2:43 AM

No, and it will never become one. People from Congress are elected by the people because they share the people's views. There are many people in the U.S. who would not like an empire, and Congress represents those views of the people.

But if we ever become an empire (which I doubt), it would be dangerous, considering the amount of nuclear warheads we have around.

Spyro_Loves_Me · Apr 15, 2008 5:43 AM

Mm, not exactly "WWIII". It's really just "let's see who can make the most nukes and fire them all".
So yeah, pretty much a cold war.

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 15, 2008 10:17 AM

Well if anyone started dropping atomic bombs on the UK I would be stuffed. There is an 'early warning station' or something where they listen to see if anyones firing nukes at us, its called Fylingdales or summat like that. So it would be a prime target, Scarborough is only like 20-30 miles away from it.....

DragonFireOKN · Apr 15, 2008 11:19 AM

Congress isn't as secure as it seems. Russia has over 15,000 nukes. 5 could take out Europe.

Phoenix_Flyer · Apr 15, 2008 11:23 AM

Aye, if they hit the right places they could use even less. For example take out London and there you have it, The Prime Minister and the Queen both taken out.

ontels · Apr 15, 2008 7:50 PM

I dont really think that the U.S.A is an empire because it has a president not an emporer but then again I may be wrong about this

bmah · Apr 15, 2008 10:32 PM

An empire isn't based on whether it has an emperor or not.

ontels · Apr 16, 2008 9:09 AM

ok sorry my bad

Antr the Rolf · Apr 17, 2008 2:40 AM

TO me yeah it is..but every empire has its fall someday..so one day ours won't be in control..and we already got enemies with an advantage..so I plan on getting the freak outta the USA!

Spyro_Loves_Me · Apr 17, 2008 4:30 AM

Haha. And where are you going to go? You aren't going to find many safe places out there. :-P

Antr the Rolf · Apr 17, 2008 4:35 AM

Uhh..I've already planned...thinking about germany,or Australlia...NOT CHINA!

bmah · Apr 17, 2008 4:54 AM

Come here to Canada! tongue

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Is the United States an Empire?

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