I try to adopt a realist position, we should attempt to do the right thing, not just to be a nice guy, but because in the long run it pays dividends in trust and good will. And we can afford to be generous and help out our friends. But sometimes you have to play hardball and lie down with dogs, simply because the alternatives are too risky. And there is no shortage of bullies and psychopaths out there. Its a judgement call and we're bound to get it wrong some of the time.

What ticks me off is the hypocrisy. We are always ready to help X be free, unless there is nothing of value there, then they're on their own. If we need to squash a third world country in order to protect our prosperity from thieves or our freedom from tyrants, then so be it. We should not do it because a campaign contributor owns some property down there. Cynical? Brutal? Maybe, but I can't think of one nation in history that hasn't done it when it thought it could get away with it. OTOH, when the aircraft carriers set sail, I want to know why they're going and what's in it for me. Spare me the flags and the prayers.