America's missionary zeal for liberty goes back a bit

Via lgf comes this link to an LA Times column by Michael Oren, pointing out that today's "realists", in their demand that we negotiate treaties with such countries as Syria and Iran, have completely ignored the history of our country, as have those who believe the only interest we have ever had in the region is oil:

THE STALLED U.S. mission in Iraq has prompted calls for a return to “realism” in American foreign policy. Instead of striving for freedom and national cohesion in the Middle East, realists argue that the U.S. should negotiate with Syria and Iran and abandon the dream of remaking the region on a democratic, federated model. Realists claim that replacing a faith-based policy with an agenda based solely on economic and strategic interests will return the United States to its traditional posture in the Middle East.

In fact, long before the rise of radical Islam and even the discovery of oil, Americans worked to bring liberty and human rights to the Middle East. For well over 200 years, U.S. citizens have sought to endow Middle Eastern peoples with the same inalienable liberties Americans enjoy at home.

It's well worth reading the whole thing.