>The ultimate success of the USA, IMHO comes straight from the
Declaration of Independence --
Historically, the successful empires had little of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". For instance, the USSR went toe-toe with the US technologically and militarily for a long time. Unfortunately their economy was in shambles.
Other examples of Empires with little liberty:
- Roman
- Chinese
- British
- Japanese
The US seems to be a libertarian anomoly. Though this doesn't dispprove your statement, perhaps there is another thing in common that all succesful empires have had. Some that the US also has.