Glenn, this is truly an excellent post.
GardoneVT
"So long as we have to trade with other countries, we risk military involvement. Whether by choice or not."
The US took the Philippines, Hawaiii, etc., Perry entered Japan by force, western countries had major territorial and commercial control in northern China in the 1900's, the US had control over banana republics in central america, the largely artificial creation of Saudi Arabia to get its oil, the list goes on and on...
"Trade" is a misnomer in so many cases. "Domination" would perhaps be more accurate.
Things are what they are. The US didn't end up as the world's policeman by accident.