[IrishHand]

There's a world of difference between "isolationism" and not dominating so many 'lesser' countries and peoples.

The best thing for Americans (at least in the short run) is to work only for the interests of Americans - maintain access to vital resources (re. oil), ensure (re. coerce) favorable trade agreements, etc. The best thing for humans (including Americans) is to work for the best interests of humanity.

What would happen if we didn't have a huge military presence in the Middle East? Oil prices would rise - which would have a big effect on the US economy in the short run (and an effect which no sensible administration would allow, since it would ensure that administration didn't return in 0-4 years). We'd be forced to find *gasp* alternatives to having millions of single-occupant vehicles all over the roads. We'd find alternatives to gas-driven vehicles, and we'd place a greater emphasis on public transit. In the end, you'd have less pollution, less dependance on other nations (that oil we were talking about). Of course, the removal of our military in the Middle East would also result in a dramatical reduction in anti-Americanism. They're happy to trade with us, they just don't like all the terms being dictated from the safe end of a gun.

I realize that's a serious generalization, but the basic idea holds. We're locked into a lifestyle and way of thinking, and we're prepared to kill to keep it.