There's a verse which is apposite to this.

It's by that well-known Imperialist Rudyard Kipling and it lays out exactly what's going on. When Imperialists tell you this kind of thing, listen to them.

(Dane-geld was ransom money given to the Vikings by the Anglo-Saxons)

Danegeld

It is always a temptation for an armed and agile nation

To call upon a neighbour and to say:

"We invaded you last night, we are quite prepared to fight

Unless you pay us gold to go away."

And that is called asking for Dane-geld

And the nations that ask it explain

You have only to pay him the Dane-geld -

And then you'll get rid of the Dane.

It is always a temptation for a fat and idle nation

To puff and look important and to say:

"Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.

We will therefore pay you gold to go away."

And that is called paying the Dane-geld

And we've proved it again and again:

When once you have paid him the Dane-geld,

You'll never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation;

For fear the should succumb and go astray:

So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,

It is far better policy to say:

"We never pay anyone Dane-geld.

No matter how trifling the cost.

For the end of that game is oppression and shame

And the nation that plays it is lost."

The poem was published in 1911.