America as an Empire?

I found another article, written by Jim Garrison, that deals with the question: Is America an empire? Here is the full article.

I think he has a convincing argument for why America is viewed by many as an empire. He says, "[America] used to represent freedom. Now it represents power." The level of power that America has attained is the basis for forming the American Empire. And just as Garrison stated, "The transition from republic to empire is irreversible, like the metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly. Once power is attained, it is not surrendered. It is only exercised."

Another argument supporting the idea that America is an empire is the fact that America has established military bases around the world. We keep these military bases in both times of war and in times of peace. Some of the military bases are unwanted, however, they remain there though the majority of people in some countries wish not to have the presence of US military bases.

I agree with Julie's comment that the definition of "empire" must change with time. We will never see another empire in the terms of the 18th century British Empire. Yet we conceive ourselves as an empire and we are quite different from the 18th century British Empire. This has much to due with America's military supremacy and our desire to influence other nations economically, socially, and politically.