The Ugly Americans: How the U.S. Became the Very Thing It Claimed to Oppose

From covert operations to surveillance states, the U.S. has become a global force for oppression, not freedom.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

This in-depth article traces the descent of the United States into a global force for oppression, from covert operations that killed thousands in Vietnam to the surveillance state and algorithmic kill chains now being exported worldwide. It examines how America's pursuit of power and profit has led it to become the very 'ugly American' it once condemned, with the country's military-industrial-intelligence complex now pursuing technologies like synthetic biology, AI, and quantum computing that threaten to give it god-like control over the fundamental building blocks of existence.

Why it matters

This story is a sobering look at how America's quest for global dominance has transformed it into a force for authoritarianism and human rights abuses around the world. It raises urgent questions about the unchecked power of the U.S. military-industrial complex, the dangers of privatized surveillance and algorithmic decision-making, and the moral reckoning the country must face for the atrocities committed in its name.

The details

The article delves into a litany of U.S. interventions and covert operations over the decades, from the Phoenix Program in Vietnam to the CIA's support for Latin American dictatorships. It also examines how America's pursuit of "dollar hegemony" has led it to undermine democracies and prop up authoritarian regimes that serve its economic interests. The author argues that the U.S. does not actually export democracy, but rather enforces a global system of tribute to the American empire.

  • Since 1945, the United States has not known a single year without war.
  • From 2020 to 2024, private contractors sucked up $2.4 trillion from the Pentagon—54 percent of DOD discretionary spending.
  • At least 232 journalists and media workers have lost their lives in Gaza since October 7, 2023, making it the "worst ever conflict for reporters."

The players

Marlon Brando

An American actor who played an American ambassador neck-deep in covert operations in the classic Cold War film "The Ugly American".

Frank Church

A U.S. Senator who in 1975 warned about the NSA's capability for total surveillance, a capability that has only grown more powerful and dangerous over the decades.

Jeffrey Sachs

The chair of the Lancet's COVID-19 Commission, who believes the evidence suggests COVID-19 may have originated from U.S. lab biotechnology.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This article serves as a sobering wake-up call about the true nature of American power and the dangers of unchecked militarism, surveillance, and technological hubris. It challenges readers to confront the country's ugly history of global domination and human rights abuses, and to demand greater accountability and democratic oversight over the forces that have transformed the U.S. into an authoritarian hegemon.