THE ACCIDENTAL EMPIRE

Rome was not built in a day
All roads lead to Rome
Forget Indian Wars,Border Wars
incursions into Mexico,Louisiana Purchase
Spanish-American War-even the Philippines
Ignore all those proxy wars in South America
The American Dream began after WW2
when Yalta divided spheres of influence
and America found a Berlin Wall
long before the Great Firewall of China
Presidents vacillated between Manifest Destiny and Fortress America
Pearl Harbor precipitated an Anglo-American Alliance
that took over post-colonial Britain's role as world policeman
Suddenly-Communism!Korea,Vietnam..
We never sought ownership,possession nor dominion
Red of the Britmaps became red,white and blue
We did not know what to do-so we oscillated
between withdrawal(Vietnam)and engagement(Nicaragua,Libya,Grenada,Panama)
But we wanted no Empire.We saw Walls fall
and withdrew behind ours.Dollar denominated currencies demanded leadership
We were dragged in to arbitrate.We invaded.Now we withdraw again
and they countdown to Chinese domination
Whatever happens,it will change(again)
We will withdraw again/invade again
And when they ask what happened to the Great American Empire?
we will simply say-it was an accident of Fate.