In the 21st century, America has been directly or indirectly involved in wars involving Libya, Iraq, Syria, Russia, Niger, Somalia, Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen. To believe, somehow, that these wars have made the world safer, better, and more secure is a complete lie, borne out by the very fact, that the world has become an ever more dangerous place, especially when the two greatest nuclear arm powers are at loggerheads with one another. So too, to believe that the answer to trouble, or potential trouble, must always be warfare is the type of mindset that benefits only those of the military-industrial-technology complex, and does a grand disservice to the people, at large, on all sides of a given conflict.
Those then that actually believe that American wars, are initiated, in order to bring about for the country so being warred upon, a better society, of democracy, freedom, liberty, education, and opportunity for all, are absolutely delusional. Wars, for the most part, are exactly what they appear to be – the forcing by violent means of one nations’ desire against the sovereignty and desires of another nation. When it comes to America, in particular, none of its wars in the 21st century, have involved any countries in North, Central, or South America, which would seem to indicate that America believes, for whatever reason or reasons, that it should not be seen as just a powerful North American country, but rather should be seen as a global superpower that on its own, is entitled to make war against anyone at anytime for any reason, whatsoever -- treaties, niceties, and diplomacy, be damned!
The rather sad point when it comes to humanity and the governance of nations, is that, incredibly, if humanity were only to look at the animal kingdom, they might actually learn a relevant lesson or two. For instance, though animals of the same species could often go to war against one another, for territory, for food, for mating reasons, and whatnot; those that could war against one another, often instead, realize that the better part of valor, is rather to display all the signs of war, as in the baring of teeth, or the thumping of the chest, or aggressive movements, but tellingly do not truly wish to engage in warfare with one another, most of the time, because they recognize that any battle, is going to probably involve some real damage, on both sides.
The terrible thing about warfare is that warfare is a terrible thing -- for the damage it does to the minds and the bodies of those so involved in it, the destruction of infrastructure, the upsetting of the norms within society, the environmental damage, and the regression of civilization. So then, rather than seeing warfare as a legitimate response to trouble, a far better reading of the situation, is to understand that “saber rattling” along with constructive diplomacy is the superior avenue to walk upon. After all, when we consider all of the killing and destruction that Americans have done through warfare, supposedly to make the world a safer and more just place – is that, time and time again, nothing of substance has been resolved. Further to the point, to believe that justice comes through the point of the sword, should be seen as a source of embarrassment for any nation, that considers itself to be civilized, and reflects instead the insane belief that “might makes right” which is wholly untrue.