The West is tired of constant warfare. Before WW I and II, the US was militarily distant from the constant killing. We were in a perfect position to rescue Europe from itself, and morally in a superior position. We now are tired of butting our noses into everyones affairs, and frankly want our troops to come home. We are suffering the burnout Britain suffered, and every other "Empire" building nation. I know we are not building these empires for ourselves, but we are trying to set them up for others anyway. At least the Romans, Brits and Spaniards, kept the spoils of war. We expend great capital, then come away with nothing but rivals, enemies, or competitors.
Populism always sounds so cool and refreshing in tough times.
bttt...
good points I don't want to forget.
I get your point very well, BUT is it an appropriate question to ask, if it were to come to this, would we rather have these combats in the United States? If we were to be attacked on our soil, would the whole country rally to defend America? Yes, they probably would when the enemy and their suicide bombers moved in with the intention of converting or killing all us "non-believers".
Could that be the alternative to the actions the United States is involved in now?
The difference is that in the coming war with the moslims, the killing will be in our own streets and malls and schools.
If the West is tired of constant warfare, I wonder how they will react when it come to their own neighborhoods.
It will then not be simply a show that we are tired of watching on our TVs but something a hell of a lot more personal.