No one was trying to win "hearts and minds" with force of arms. That is silly. You win hearts and minds through agrarian reform and medical clinics, for example. As it is, though, you are mistaken to think that military superiority automatically creates implacable enmity. In the countries conquered by Alexander the Great, it largely led to embrace of Greek culture. In the countries conquered by Rome, it largely led to "Latinization". Even the semi- barbaric Goths who finally sacked Rome were in awe of it, and adopted Roman customs. (Theodoric called himself Senator, but was to intimidated to have himself crowned Emperor). Many of Britain's colonies are happy to be in the Commonwealth and think fondly of the Empire. Japan and Germany are among our closest allies. If anything, the preponderant weight of evidence is against you, as long as the occupying country is generous and provides competent administration.
Who cares if it is a threat to us now? For all we know, the domino theory was correct, and the only reason that the whole of Southeast Asia did not fall is that we exhausted North Vietnam.
If you haven't figured it out yet, we did not make Ho Chi Minh or Pol Pot Communists....... |
