But in the American diplomatic tradition, moderation is generated internally, rather than imposed from outside. It is a consequence of reflection on the very same moral principles that guide our domestic politics. More importantly, the Declaration explains that legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed, and that each people has a right to choose a government that seems to them most likely to effect their safety and happiness. But Americans cannot be indifferent to the form of government that others may choose, or have imposed upon them. Here is where the moral, rather than strategic, compass is decisive, by allowing Americans to distinguish between friends and enemies.
Despots hate free governments the way the devil hates holy water.
Democratic, constitutional nations like the United States naturally attract the sympathy of oppressed peoples, and serve as a standard by which those peoples can find fault with, and eventually overthrow, tyranny. We have seen this phenomenon recently occur in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This does not mean that the United States must engage in a crusade against despotism, or for democracy. The Declaration of Independence invokes the need for prudence, as well as asserting the inalienable rights of mankind. Geopolitics does matter in the real world, and we should appreciate Kissinger's point about the frequent need for the hard-headed application of power.