In the United States many people seem to buy into the notion that Washington is inclined to act as "the worlds police". If by that, people mean the government comes around to shake you down for 'protection money' or roughs you up for not being in compliance their codes, then yes the U.S. is the worlds police. If on the other hand, they mean the US goes around the world enforcing international law and attempting to insure that countries respect Civil & Human Rights? Not even close.
The frequent illegal military actions taken by Washington are more accurately described as international terrorism than foreign policy. Simply put, the scope and horror of U.S. foreign policy shows a brutality and contempt for humanity that is sadistic and psychopathic. Since the U.S. is a nation born out of genocide and slavery there is a collective need for a rationalization regarding the divine nature of both the individual and national identity, without which we may come face to face with our own savagery. Manifest Destiny has been replaced by American Exceptional-ism as the pretext for global hegemony, but the superiority of both the American people and their government has always been considered self-evident. The rest of the planet exists to provide the the U.S. with resources, cheap labor and exotic travel destinations, where the locals will be expected to learn english so they will be capable of providing proper service to the citizens of empire. Should these sub-humans fail to get this message clearly, Washington will bring substantial military force to bear on the civilian populations as means to ousting any leaders who are not in compliance with wishes of the 'Exceptional Americans'. I wont trouble you with a list of nations where U.S. military power has resulted in immeasurable human suffering and death simply to change leaders in the target country, anyone with a cursory knowledge of global events since WW2 already knows.
Governments are expensive and often undependable tools used to enforce the will of the few upon the many. Lobbyists and campaign financing are all effective tools to bring governments in line with the wishes off the economic oligarchs but they are not always guaranteed too provide the desired results. Trade agreements are much simpler, cheaper and more effective tools for the corporate elite to assert their will. Governments can become cumbersome, unpredictable and worst of all they may, however unlikely, respond to the will of the people. Straight forward business agreements between the members of economic oligarchy are much easier to manage. Simple tools like the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), in the hands of the right people can go along way to putting an end to the pesky grumblings of the peasants who want to use the democratic process to better their lives and push back against their 'superiors'.
This does not mean that governments are no longer of useful to the oligarchs , quite the contrary. War is still hugely profitable and most profitable if corporations can stay out of the political dynamics and simply provide the needed materials to fight the war with-out actually having to choose sides. Nation States are essential to having a proper war. This brings us to the beauty of the war on terrorism. By destabilizing governments and radicalizing populations there will be an endless supply of small enemies not clearly associated with their nations of origin, but responding to religious mandates and emotional scars caused by the brutality of their oppressors. An elusive enemy who can strike anywhere at anytime requires a National Security Apparatus with unlimited resources and scope. The new enemy is agile and they don't wear uniforms so they can easily hide amongst civilian populations, therefore, it becomes essential to watch everyone and gather data on everyone. Government can be used for the collection of that data and observation of the civilian populations can be paid for with taxes extracted from the same people who are being watched. It's really a beautiful deal if you are part of the ruling class.
