> It seems to me that “US bases everywhere” was a result of WWII and Europe’s inability to defend itself. <
I agree, to a certain extent. But I recently read an article that said much of America’s current foreign affairs problems stem from the year 1945. We defeated the Axis so decisively that we thought ourselves to be invincible. We could - and should - be a major force everywhere.
The Romans felt the same way. And so did Napoleon. And so did the British. And those folks all ended up the same way.
So I think America should pick and choose its interventions carefully. There is a mistake in doing too little. But there is also a mistake in doing too much.
The problem of 1945 was that US assumed to role of British Empire and entered a Cold War picking the ungoing ‘Great Game’ from UK which was a strategic rivalry between UK and Russian Empire over the control of Middle East and South Asia since 18th century.
Alternative history is a tricky thing and it is hard to argue was it right or wrong but it was at least justified by the fact that Russia was running an ideologically hostile bloc at the time.
Although it is a big ‘if’ would the Soviets be that assertive at the time if not for the Cold War declared by Churchill and not by them. Stalin has pulled the plug on Commintern early in the war and global dominance wasn’t on menu. The only inportant international goal was to force US and UK to agree to the creation of Israel which was his way to reward support from Hollywood and NYC Rosenbergs types.
The Roman Empire arrived around 1992 with Wolfowitz Doctrine when checks and balances were off. The US diplomacy started to die about that time. If you are to look closely the result is that US don’t have allies anymore. Only puppets or enemies. And it is a very costly setup. And the nation is basically hijacked by globalists with their vision of the brave new world.