Well, you first need to conquer AND defeat an eventual insurgency fully before you can play master fully.
The U.S. gets as much tribute from Iraqis after their insurgency as did the Romans from the Cherusci after their insurgency.
Instead, both pay subsidies to a wide range of foreign folks, supposedly in their own security interests.
Besides, I cannot remember the Soviets getting much tribute out of Afghanistan during the 80's or out of their Arab allies during the 70's.
How much tribute do the Brits get out of Iraq today?
Being ingrained with the idea of exceptionalism creates the strangest perceptions of uniqueness...
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