Uh oh... posting that what others in the world think of us is in any way influenced by how much we mess around in their country is a violation of the 9/11 religion. It’s like questioning Mary’s virginity on a catholic caucus thread, or posting that maybe, occasionally, W is not the greatest on a Day in the Life thread.
Cool your jets, wiseguy. Paul is just the latest of the libertarians to suggest that if the world's only superpower just 'minded its own business' and let the tyrants of the world run roughshod over every other country, they wouldn't get the notion to sucker punch it or shoot it in the back. There is no basis for that point of view in world history.
If you're thinking about citing Switzerland as a model of neutrality, don't bother. We now know the Nazis had secret deals with the Swiss involving not only billions in stolen gold, but also refusing Jewish refugees at its border during the Nazi regime. And if the Swiss grew a conscience and decided they no longer wanted to be money launderers to the world, it would be in grave danger -- personal handguns notwithstanding.
As the saying goes, nature hates a vacuum. If the U.S. voluntarily capitulates its superpower status, the throne will not remain empty out of gratitude. Do you dispute this?