so just because you are stronger you can build a base anywhere? is that what you are trying to say?
I'm saying this: oil supplies, enough to meet our demand, are critical to our way of life and standard of living. I don't know where you're from, but I'll assume you're not American. We understand that we live significantly better than the teeming masses of humanity in the second and third worlds, and we will do anything to protect that, unapologetically. In order to preserve our oil supplies, we need bases in the middle east, and need to keep potential rivals out, especially as oil becomes more scarce, as it will in the coming decades (although a disruption even in today's status quo will cause serious issues).
While we will not go out of our way to be cruel or to kill or harm unnecessarily, we will do what we have to maintain our way of life. That's no different than what great civilizations have done throughout the ages. Oh, wait... it is different.... at least we give a fuck about trying to minimize harm as much as possible in the pursuit of our goals.... former empires didn't give a shit.