from Jon Taplin's blog. Great graphics which show clearly The Empire's dependence on military force to maintain itself. In my opinion, the relationship between the huge debt of the US and its huge expenditures on military weapons and their use are directly related. The US, as the leading country of the world capitalist class, must continue to assert it bullying power in order to protect that class. The exploiting and predatory class is simply protecting its interests by lending money to The Empire. Should The Empire fall they, too, might fall and social justice might reign everywhere. Hence, I would argue, that The Empire cannot stop its bullying ways until it is defeated or exhausted.
The author's statement, "the British finally abandoned the last of their imperial pretensions and settled into rebuilding their own country, culture and spirit. By 1964 the world was sharing in the joy of life after empire." is simply wrong. The British ruling class merely recognized the US as the leader of this empire, deferred to it and joined it in dominating the world. Hence you find references made to British leaders like Blair as being "Bush's poodle".
