Empires are parasites.

Impirium Parasitus (U.S. Empire) lives upon two hosts, the internal host and the external host. The citizens as the internal hosts and the victim as the external host country or state. Sometimes the relationship is symbiotic, but most times it's only beneficial for the parasite. In end stages when the host/s are no longer to be found or have been depleted, the Impirium Parasitus may turn exclusively on its citizens.

Impirium Parasitus has learned and adapted from past hosts. The Vietnam War or The War in Southeast Asian taught the parasite many valuable lessons that are presently applied to contemporary conflicts.

• The hoi polloi (common people, the masses) must not discern caskets draped in American flags.
• The hoi polloi must not hear anti-empirical words that emanate from the popular music of the day.
• Protest must be hidden from the citizens as much as possible.
• The use of censorship and propaganda to obfuscate the motivation for parasitical exploitation.
• The use of political intimidation to keep the hoi polloi in line.
• The use of a proxy army.

We returned to bombing Iranian-backed militias in Syria today.

The destruction of ISIS has given Iran the one thing they have always dreamed of - the Shia Crescent becoming a political fact. Maybe more.