Not long ago, while speaking about the Iraq Occupation , a relative told me, in all sincerity, that the U.S. could no longer afford to be isolationist. I shrugged. Because that's what I do now when talking politics with any family that's not my wife. I shrug. And then steer the conversation to sports The U.S. has virtually never been isolationist in any real sense of the word. We are a dangerous, aggressive nation that has slaughtered millions and millions in the name of democracy, freedom, liberty, or whichever catch-phrase worked best at the time. But mainly, we are an empire. And we will kill any that stand in the way of our imperial goals.And there is no error when I write "we." Because We the People have allowed this to happen. We lost control of our government. We allowed the United States to define itself as a nation of international murders and terrorists. We have stood to the side and even applauded as our nation has attacked country after country.And while there are plenty that protest America's overt acts of aggression, there obviously just aren't enough. And there isn't enough passion in it. Because the voices for peace are easily drowned out by a government and media that believes we are a nation entitled to kill anyone, anywhere, for whatever reason , and whether those reasons are truthful or not.Think of it - the Democratic Party allowed itself to be insulted as the party that was "weak on defense." So now, Democratic candidates talk of how they would bring war to others, and the weapons they would use. The "weak on defense" bait has been so easily swallowed, even though the United States is anything but defensive. We are an offensive juggernaut.And it appears obvious that soon that offense will be unleashed on Iran . And many more innocents will die. And many more will grow to hate America. And the cycle will continue. Because Americans will continue to allow it. And because our leaders - for whom the word "diplomacy" is spoken with disdain and anger - know of no other way.And if you look clearly, you will see that the government truly believes it is doing the will of the people. We the People allowed the Neoconservative takeover of our nation. And they are no fluke. They are the natural progression of things. After eons and eons of American military involvement everywhere from Panama to Palestine, we have become a people at ease with our nation's murderous plans. The endless bursting of bombs in our name have drowned out peace, and We the People have no idea what a world without American aggression sounds like. Murder has become white noise.Even speaking of using nuclear weapons is no longer taboo. Imagine that. Discussion of a preemptive nuclear strike on a sovereign nation is now considered serious foreign diplomacy. And those in charge see this all as validation and are able to strut about with murderous hubris. Their hunger for a militarized free-market empire is endless. We are gluttons for war and the Middle East is a virtual buffet of targets.It's gotten increasingly difficult to imagine those currently in charge resisting the opening to launch a first-strike attack on Iran. Followed by a draft . Followed by more war. Followed by a war economy. Followed by more war. Serial killers don't slow down until they are forced to stop, after all. And with military bases dotting the globe, a public and world unwilling to stop them, things will continue on their obvious path. The U.S. has the largest military in the history of the planet and will continue to use it and refuse to allow the world to know peace. And We are all culpable.The U.S. is an aggressive, warring nation. And unless something dramatic happens, and We the People force those in charge to give up the belief that the U.S. has a divine right to rain death on any nation they so please, things are going to get much worse. And soon.--WKW