Zim "How do you conquer another country - without the tanks and other armored vehicles necessary to seize the political targets?"
Well, you get the population to look far across the ocean for one ersatz threat after another. That way they can't see the actual viper that is climbing up their pant leg.
Exactly how the US was just conquered: The US military ironically became the key weapon for conquering the US Republic.
"Watch the watch!" instructs the hypnotist.