Good post, Larry! And I'm on your side for a change. [do you sense a "but" coming?]
The world *is* a better place for America's presence. I only worry when that is used as an arguement to support any given action that America might take. Or: "on balance, America is the good guy, therefore to oppose [insert American effort of your choice], is to be on the side of the bad guy. Or to paint those who speak out to say that America is on the wrong path as unpatriotic.
PS: We didn't just intern those whose "ancestors happened to be Japanese". We put pretty much everyone who looked (to us) Japanese, into the camps.
PPS: I guess our (yours and mine) past conflicts have put me so far into devil's advocate mode that even when I agree with you, I can't help but quibble. ;->