The Neocons have used the resources of the American empire to pursue their aims, but their aims seem to be corporate imperialism, not necessarily American imperialism. If Cheney could have done his dirty work from Canada, he would have done so. Destroying America's economy, military, diplomatic resources, citizen well-being, constitution, etc., etc., means nothing to the Neocons because it was all done in the process of building up universal corporatism.