In George Washington's Farewell Address of 1796, his advice was to be friends of all and show favoritism to nobody. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washing.htm
"In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable, when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur. Hence, frequent collisions, obstinate, envenomed, and bloody contests. The nation, prompted by ill-will and resentment, sometimes impels to war the government, contrary to the best calculations of policy. The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations, has been the victim."
My opinion is the reason we don't act like this is because it isn't in the interests of big business. The US military is nothing but hired thugs for whatever big business is calling for at the time. Oh yeah, they sell it like it's the righteous thing to do. I guess it's also righteous to continue holding "detainees" in Cuba without being charged. It's no wonder the whole world is pissed at us.
We should have no troops outside of the US. The only possible scenario I could think of is where an invaded country is crying out for help. We are only encouraging terrorism with our bullying tactics. That we were attacked because of our foreign meddling is obvious to me. It really doesn't matter though, because the US government will do whatever is in the interests of big business. End of story.
