The USA has not been much after literal territorial gains since the end of World War II...nor have most other developed countries, because offical colonization is no longer politically acceptable in the post World War II world. Its unacceptability was one of the things that eventually brought down the Warsaw Pact. What the USA seeks is economic control of key geographical areas, client governments that do what they are told (unlike Castro, for example), and military bases in handy places (like Guantanamo Bay or the Middle East or Japan or etc...).

Imperialism is different now than it was in the colonial times. It is generally accomplished behind the outer political facade instead of out in the open...by controlling the purse strings and the firepower. Those who do not cooperate are gotten out of power by bribery, economic pressure, murder, military coup, or outright full scale invasion...whatever works. Vietnam was a case where some or all those tactics finally failed. Cuba was another. Castro went to the USA following his successful revolution in 1959, expecting friendhip, support, and assistance from the "land of the free" (whose own war of independence from Britain he deeply admired). He got a big surprise. The US government wouldn't even talk to him. Then he went to the Russians, who were the only other game in town at the time.

Now Canada, for example, is technically independent but is an economic colony of the USA. Every Canadian knows that, and we can do nothing about it.

Fortunately, life has remained pretty nice in Canada anyway. Other places have not been so fortunate. As for Castro, he has survived, and that is a veritable miracle! Talk about having nine lives... I've been to Cuba, and I admire their spirit of independence very very much, though being under siege for 40+ years has cost them a great deal.

- LH