Yet, that is precisely what is happening before our eyes in Asia, where Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared a separation of the Philippines from the United States, which might mean a re-closing of U.S. imperial bases within the country. (The U.S. military was thrown out of the country in 1991 but later succeeded in restoring its military presence there.)

The reason for the separation? The U.S. government is upset because of the way that Duterte is trying to "win" the war on drugs, one of the federal government's favorite programs, second only to Social Security and Medicare. Duterte's drug warriors, both public and private, have been killing drug users and drug dealers on sight.

Why has that upset U.S. officials? It's hard to know why, since Duterte's methods in the war on drugs mirror those of the U.S. government in its war on terrorism. No trial by jury. No due process of law. Just quick, deadly "justice" in the form of executions and assassinations.

In any event, Duterte didn't like being lectured to by U.S. officials, at one point becoming so angry and so indignant with his imperial overlords that he referred to President Obama in extremely derogative terms.