if America is not an empire how could America become the one?

Answer 1

America is not an empire, per se. Although some in the Neo-Con camp may seem to want to represent it as such (see Project for the New American Century http://www.newamericancentury.org/ )

Empires these days are more economic than anything else. Sure, you have dictatorships and totalitarian states, but no political empires. Too much information exchange, fast citizen awareness, for a true empirical state.

Answer 2

There is no way that America could become an empire. First, we have never kept any land that we have freed in any major war in the past century. We freed Cuba and the Phillipines along with other island states from Spanish rule in the late 1800's. We saved Europe three times including defeating the Soviet Republic allowing central and eastern Europe to resume freedom. The United States of America tends to support freedom from oppression and the World has made us the police force for the World. That is why we entered into Iraq in the first place.

Answer 3

Acquiring territory by military conquest is always a good start. Establishing overseas colonies helps, too.

Answer 4

The one what?