America has always been a global bully, using its military to oppress, assassinate, and occupy.

I’d quibble with the ‘always’ but you’re not otherwise wrong. It goes at least as far back as the war of 1812, which was really about taking Iroquois lands (Iroquois were allied with GB, drawing them in). It’s presented as though it were about ‘maritime freedom’, but the major seaport-trading region at the time (New England) came close to seceding over it.

After that, it was ‘eminent destiny’ (i.e. taking the rest of the native held land).

Once that was done,we were not much different from the Spaniards at the end of the reconquista.