The old paleocon cuts through the cr*p

Americans are not driven by some ideological vocation to reform mankind. We do not have the patience or perseverance of great imperial peoples. If an issue is not seen as vital to our own liberty and security, we will not fight long for some abstraction like democracy, self-determination or human rights.

I think Dubya forgot (or never received) that lesson.

More common sense from Dick's speechwriter at Real Clear Politics