Your ‘Constitutionalist’ views read well on paper. Jefferson’s words read as nobly as, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!” Great and noble concepts each, yet the implementation of both fail miserably. As you know, the latter is a key tenet of Marx (that is NEVER adhered to) and, as you stated, you trained to fight against (at the time) the most powerful nation that CLAIMED to espouse such views. As for the former, unfortunately 170 years of history puts the lie to this, beginning with Polk’s ‘Manifest Destiny’. The very idea that the US alone would expand throughout the continent of the Americas belies the idea of ‘honest friendship with all nations’. It threatened Canada’s very existence, resulting (thankfully) in a trans-continental railway that bound Canada together, a nation founded as a defence AGAINST American expansionism!. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Philippines, Guam or the former American ‘colony’ of Cuba.
The US (like Russia, France, China, the UK and many other major countries) has a long history of meddling in other countries’ affairs, up to and including the overthrowing of duly elected governments for the sake of American enterprise and influence. (1949 Syrian coup, 1953 Iran coup, 1954 Guatemalan coup, 1964 Brazilian coup, 1973 Chilean coup, 1976 Argentinian coup, etc.) BEFORE ANYONE ATTACKS ME FOR BEING SOCIALIST, ONE NEED ONLY READ MY PREVIOUS POSTINGS. I am merely pointing out that Jefferson’s comments about ‘honest friendship with all nations’ has long been forgotten by the US!
The problem with being a ‘superpower’ is that, while one can influence the actions of other countries to your benefit, even to their detriment, it also carries RESPONSIBILITIES to DEFEND others. The myth of America the Good, as opposed to America the Pragmatic, means that the US has a RESPONSIBILITY to defend the Ukraine. After all, it was American (and NATO) power and foreign policy that led to an independent Ukraine. The same goes for those 12 East European nations that joined NATO. Through US (and NATO) power and policy, they became free to choose, and chose closer ties to the EU and NATO.
You, sir, and EVERY American, has benefited immensely from American non-adherence to Jefferson’s principles! Indirectly, so have Canadians, firstly because American expansionism resulted in the formation of Canada as a buttress against said expansionism. The American ‘empire’ was perhaps the most benign empire that has existed, even more benign than the British Empire, so that is good news. I will add though, that if you do not already work for RT or Voice of Russia, I’m sure they could use your services as a Russian apologist.
The civil war in Ukraine illustrates the great risks posed by NATO's recent eastward expansion. Fortunately, Ukraine is not a NATO member and we are not obligated by treaty to fight for it. But twelve little chihuahua nations are now "full" members of NATO, and total war is risked every time any one of them snarls at the hated bear. NATO has extended its treaty obligations far beyond its originally intended scope, to the point that a miscalculation by any one of a dozen tiny little countries could force us into a war. That is insane.