On America's Almost Messianic Calling to Crusade for Global Democracy and Intervene Overseas (a la Woodrow Wilson, Bush 2, etc.)

It's hard to envision how such a practice (a society banging its heads against the wall toward the achievement of impossible goals and the end-result invariably being one of bankruptcy, corruption, demise, etc.) ensures our national survival. In the words of President John Quincy Adams, America "should not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy......and while we should always be the well-wishers of the freedom and independence of all, we should only be the champion and vindicator of our own." Smart fellow this Adams.