American Imperialism: Ignoring the Will of the People

IT IS A BIT MURKY, historically, just who the American or group of Americans was who decided that, at the end of World War Two, the American military would not be brought home and mustered out of service, but would instead be left very much intact, and stationed all over the world, especially in conquered countries, like Japan and Germany. Blame probably goes to Harry Truman, who was president when the war ended, and for over six years thereafter. You might as well say that Theodore Roosevelt made the decision, when he decided, early in his life, that the United States should be a world power, and possibly even an empire. Of course he got his wish. From the very beginning of the American republic, the American republic has had the word "empire" written all over it. The American military base on the Japanesse island of Okinawa has been there since the big war, and over the decades urban sprawl has caught up with and surrounded it. Therefore the Americans have decided to build and are building a new base on the same Island, but with more room. You wonder how much all this costs. Billions, we can safely assume. You also wonder whether there will ever come a time, even in the remote future, when there will be no American base in Japan, or if Okinawa is eternal. Unless I'm dreaming, the Japanese recently decided to assume responsibilty for their own defense, and to build their own military? Was I dreaming? The United States should not be the policeman of the world, the world's hegemonic superpower. All that should be in the hands of the United Nations. a majority of Americans agree with this idea; but their government, a military-industrial complex, ignores the will of the people.