that's too simplistic (or shallow) of an interpretation. the u.s. are using the vast oceans as buffer zones for her national security interests. pearl harbor was an excuse to project her power like the wings of a eagle spanning the pacific and atlantic, with her feathers touching the far east on the pacific rim and europe and middle east on the atlantic side. to continue to support this doctrine of forward bases at the ends of both her wings, she still maintains bases in south korea, japan, okinawa, thailand, sg, australia. in taiwan, she keeps another prostituting proxy. do you know how much it costs to maintain a base in these cuntries? and who are embedded in and reliant on the corrupted eco-system of bases and military presence? there's federal funding from taxpayers, and money is squandered on personnel, contractors and their cronies milking the system. for example, air force families in south korea are given perks and luxuries you'll never see in any township back home in the u.s. and everything is paid for by taxpayers. kids of force personnel enjoy baseball and softball like the minor leagues, and they are flown all over far east bases via commercial airliners on a weekly basis to compete in the far east league dedicated for american armed forces personnel only. can you imagine flying entire teams of elementary graders and coaches and accompanying parents and teachers from sasebo, japan to bangkok, thailand for a weekend of little league baseball? and off to hawaii the next weekend to compete with a team from the pacific little league? do you think the armed forces personnel in these bases wish to give up the good life?