What makes you think Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Panama, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and now Iraq....

... will be on your side in future conflicts?

I think the point is they will not be on your side. If you destroy a threat to your country and manage to live in peace and freedom for a time, that should be your reward. But if you want these people to thank you for fighting their fight, don't. They live in those countries, they know what the rules are, and they know the consequences for breaking those rules better than anyone. We shouldn't automatically go to war for them because they screwed up and we think their customs are too harsh.