When Bush was on Meet the Press, he was asked what the biggest issue was in the upcoming campaign. He answered in part, "...who can properly use American power in a way to make the world a better place."

Is it appropriate for a President to use America's power to shape the world in his preference or should the proper use of America's power be limited to protecting America and repairing the many problems here at home?

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it shouldn't be the biggest issue for a presidency, but in a globalised world, no political
leader can turn his eye from what is going on outside of his country. the important
thing is to balance this. i don't want to live in a world, where every country is only
concerned about what's going on inside their borders and doesn't mind people
slaughtering each other elsewhere. but on the other hand i don't want to live in a
world, where one country dictates it's moralality and enforces it's will on the rest of
the world either.
so i would want an american president who uses his power to trigger cooperation
between the world's governments.

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The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.

Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people under an efficient government. the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. - George Washington, Farewell Address 1796

Determined as we are to avoid, if possible, wasting the energies of our people in war and destruction, we shall avoid implicating ourselves with the powers of Europe, even in support of principles which we mean to pursue. They have so many other interests different from ours, that we must avoid being entangled in them. We believe we can enforce these principles as to ourselves by peaceable means, now that we are likely to have our public councils detached from foreign views. --Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 1801

We have already given... one effectual check to the dog of war, by transferring the power of letting him loose from the Executive to the Legislative body, from those who are to spend to those who are to pay. --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1789

You will be damned if you do—And you will be damned if you don't. - Lorenzo Dow "Reflections on the Love of God"

"...who can properly use American power in a way to make the world a better place."

So I guess the American president now gets to determine what government, what ruler and what system of ruling a country is appropriate for the people living there. Who is to say that the PEOPLE are unhappy. Granted, I don't want to portay Iraq as a country worth living in prior to the war (and definately not after) but if the people would have not wanted it they could have staged a revolution. It was successful in Iran, Cuba, China, Russia and so forth so that is a very real alternative if you want to rid yourself of a bad government.

Dubya has NO right to use America's military might to "make the world a better place" as it would be HIS perception alone that determines what is good or bad...

I am not sure you can compare Iraq and a possible revolution to those that took place in China, Iran, Cuba....
The iraqis were under one of the most brutal regimes known. Furthermore, within Iraq the population is divided up on religious beliefs and race, which makes a united front to topple a government highly unsuccessful. The way Hussein administered power allowed him to prevent a military coup. I do agree on Dubya not having any right to use Americas might, since to me that is at the core of the problems, America not making use of dialogue in a constructive manner. The with us or without us speeches alienate many around the world

The only reason to look outside the US is to conquer. I say, in my view, that the USA has everything, and that they dont need to put themselves in the middle of everywhere trying to bring world "Peace". US knows, that it is the most powerful nation in the world. Keeping that in mind, if US gets into any situation with other countries, You already know what the outcome will be.