Right. The record of history is pretty clear that world powers can and have acted within a broad latitude of barbarity towards weaker nations, mostly on the 'b

Right. The record of history is pretty clear that world powers can and have acted within a broad latitude of barbarity towards weaker nations, mostly on the 'barbaric' end of the spectrum. The record of history is also pretty clear that the US is the most docile and harmless of world powers that has ever existed. There's a reason we call it the Pax Americana--the 'overwhelming power' of the US has contributed to the peace, freedom and wealth of billions of people around the globe who aren't American. Let's compare that record with a random 'world superpower' selection: - Ancient Rome (constant war on the frontiers, relentless expansionism and imperialism) - Umayyad Caliphate (forced conversion by the sword, constant aggression towards neighbors) - Genghis Khan (mass murdering, raping, genocidal maniac) - the British Empire (slave trade, colonial domination) - The Soviet Union (worldwide support and funding of mass murderer by proxy) There has to be some perspective when talking about the US's role as the world police. There will always be a world superpower, and that superpower has the power to exercise restraint and civility when dealing with other nations. On that front 20th to 21st century America has taken an active role in: - Stabilizing world order through active involvement in mediating inter-national conflicts (League of Nations, then the United Nations) - Promoting globalization, free trade and free flow of capital and people amongst the nations of the world, including rival powers like Russia and China - Protecting NATO allies from the specter of the Soviet Union (for decades a very real threat to international peace, prosperity & stability) - Preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons which have apocalyptic potential to end life as we know it Now, it's hard to see how our (many admittedly unjustified) interventions in various regimes and countries throughout history outweighs the remarkable achievements of the Pax Americana. It would be hard to find another world superpower in history that comes anywhere close to the US in terms of stable, safe, prosperous and peaceful world governance.