Of course you're right, Mig--it does not.
In my comment above, I pointed out that what I call "phase 2", is just that- a forced reversion to raw force to extract tribute because the long-used, but less obvious weapons are failing. But it too has failed so far, and there just aint enough in the kitty to manage a wider squeeze without nukes. And Empires never say "Oops."

And, rdf, I have diaried the technology, the history, some of the politics and the players in the "Pax Americana" until no one wanted to hear it. And this IS my field.
Beginning with:

The Quiet Coup
and then

the Empire- Baseworld and Blackstar
and the most commented one,

The Empire's Last Big Stick

Why?

Cause it's one of several likely futures for us all, and no one wants to touch it, by and large. Till recently.
If you want to add your impressions, or correct mine, --boy, do I welcome that. Maybe a few more will do the same.
Then again, --perhaps it will all just fade away.
Perhaps Admiral Fallon, Pat Lehey, John Conyers, the recently ex-Secretary of the Air Force Moseley and his civillian counterpart Wynne, Lawrence Wilkerson, and a host of others will win their obvious battle to throttle the nuke nerds. Then you can join my Dingbat Discussion Forum.

 

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.