[jessaustin]

You do realize, that this is 100% bullshit? We have destroyed these societies by destroying them; we'll hardly do further damage by leaving them alone. Just compare Libya, a smoking ruin where we did all we felt it was necessary to do, with Syria, a now-largely-peaceful functioning nation with the good sense to protect itself from our predations. They have slave markets in Libya now. No regular person survives without regular protection payments to gangsters. Reporters don't dare venture there, they keep track of the carnage by counting the people washing up on Europe's southern shores. The best thing we can do to any nation is the best thing we could have done, always. Leave them alone. If they request, send some humanitarian supplies. Recently however we have screwed up even that simple task, by trying to use humanitarian efforts as a screen for undermining Venezuela's elected government. (Don't believe me? Just ask the Red Cross.)