Kind of like the Japanese, right?
The idea of a Fortress America, one which defends itself only when attacked, is foolishly naive. It would allow a powerful nation or coalition attain control over the people and resources of the Eastern Hemisphere, and allow it/them to attack us on their initiative (strategically, not tactically, speaking). Imagine if we had not opposed the Soviets from 1945 onwards - they'd have rolled over Europe in no time, then taken the Persian Gulf oil fields and ultimately taken the strategic mineral treasures of southern Africa (chromium, cobalt, etc.). Then they and the Chinese could've had a truly massive military to use in an assault on us, say in the 1960's.
We are a free people, and wealthy because of that freedom. That automatically makes enemies for us, some from jealousy, some from greed. That is the way of the world, and history confirms it. That being the case, I'd rather fight in my enemy's back yard before he's too powerful, than in my backyard when he's strong and can choose the time of the fight.
Notwithstanding the above, there is always the risk of "imperial overstretch." It affected Rome, England and a host of other nations and empires, all of which are gone. The US is not immune from this. But that doesn't mean that we have to, or should, run away from the world. It does mean that we should pick our fights carefully (and sometimes you can't pick a fight - it picks you).
True enough but Roosevelt and Churchill who fought WW II because of the German invasion of Poland ended up by handing over Poland to the Soviets. Plus we had traitors who provided the bomb to Russia and favored Mao. The Communist heritage survives today because our government was loaded with supporters of foreign interests with their own favorites.
Saddam is but a pimple on our arse compared with China. I think the unintended or intended consequences of what you favor means we should attack China on their land today before they attack us on ours. Nah, fortress America with strong retribution is a much better idea.