So does all these events remind you of the time period just before Start Wars Episode IV: A New Hope? Think about it: AT the beginning of the movie when Darth Vader takes hold of the Rebel ship carrying Princess Leia and they take her hostage. Leia says "the Senate will have your head, Darth Vader, for taking a diplomatic ship hostage!". Then later, around the the meeting table with all the imperial generals, general Talken (I think that's his name) says "any remaining remnants of the senat and old republic have been eradicated. They are just a memory now. FEAR will keep the local republics in line."

Fast forward 2003, real world: The UN has lost it's power and the US government is saying they are no longer relevant, allowing the US to do whatever they want without the Security Council having any authority or power. FEAR will keep other countries in line (why oppose the US if you'll get blown up by Apache helicopters and stealth bombers?). No need for the UN anymore.

Will the US army turn into Storm Troopers? After all, at the end of Episode II, the cloe army (soon-to-be storm troopers) were fighting for good.