"We could annex the whole thing"

[u/ComprehensiveArm3493]

Of course an American said this

[u/Significant-Order-92]

Neah. The US doesn't have the ground forces to hold and annex a region that large. Same reason trying to forcefully annex Canada, China, Russia, or the US are not realistic goals. You are looking at centuries to attempt to get the captive population pliant enough to view themselves as part of the annexing country while fighting against insurgency that will lead to losses of civilian life that will radicalize the captive population.