| Describing US bases as imperial outposts is just an insult to the friendly countries who invited you in - rather like being invited to stay at someone's house for the weekend and then going round describing the place as "part of my property portfolio".
The word "Empire" has often been used inaccurately - as in "Holy Roman -" or "Central African -", but if you ask me it properly refers to entities like the Roman Empire or the later Spanish, British, or French Empires. In all of these, the provinces were obliged to adopt the legal system, currency, and (at least for administrative purposes) language of the ruling power, and moreover (something you Americans ought to be able to remember) pay taxes to the imperial power. The USA just does not have an empire in this sense, and really you ought to disavow the idea as unhelpful and uncomplimentary. |