I think a bigger and fundamental question is, does America want to be an Empire or just another country. Non-empires do not establish bases far away from home.

I think a bigger and fundamental question is, does America want to be an Empire or just another country. Non-empires do not establish bases far away from home. Non-empires do not seek to make governments in their image. Non-empires do not attempt to bring democracy to those who are not used to it. Empires do all these things, and they are costly to maintain in blood and treasure but do provide some benefits in return. Whatever the choice, it should be made with clear eyed rationalism without such emotional appeals as “exporting freedom” (which has been used by both the Athenian Empire and Rome (ironically when it conquered Greece from the Macedonians)). The answer to the question drives everything.