Letter: United States should mind its own business

Friday, March 15, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

There was a time when the sentiment now derided as isolationist had leverage in American politics. Elected leaders and citizens alike once understood the imprudence of meddling in foreign quarrels. But America has moved away from the founders' prudent non-interventionism to our modern-day policy of open-ended, worldwide militarism, a policy that is transforming the United States from a republic to an empire, and earning the ill will of peoples who once admired our freedom and prosperity.

The historical precedents are not encouraging. Seldom, if ever, do empires, at the height of their power, unilaterally renounce violence and conquest abroad and revert to national affairs. It usually remains for other powers to unite against them and destroy them: That which is created by force, unfortunately, is usually undone in the same way or not at all.

Our choice is stark. Either we continue our descent into empire, spending our strength waging war across the globe; or we summon the character as a nation to return to our republican roots, replacing internationalism and endless war with the old-fashioned virtue of minding our own business.

KENNETH L. HOVEY