Lincoln, a brilliant leader

I was not suggesting that the USA turn to aggression as a way to make our influence felt.

But you clearly indicate you approve of USA having done that in the war between the states.

There have been many more honorable ways to use that influence.

This "influence" was used-- as well as was resulted from-- as aggression in the forms of military conquest in 2 wars with Britain, 1 with Mexico, the Civil War, suppression of the native people in massacres and forced marches as well as "wars, and then a skirmish with Spain-- all this before the 20th century. And since then our "influence" has come from military involvement in other parts of the world, without which we would have had no influence.

So influence and aggression are inseparable in expanding an empire or in seeking conformity to the principles we espouse.