Recently I was asked to comment on the following question:

"For decades, America’s role in the world has been summarized as promoting freedom, democracy and human rights. Following the failures of forced regime change in Iraq and Afghanistan, however, many now question this mission. Still others hold that if the U.S. were to promote democracy in nations such as Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other autocratic nations the result would be even more oppressive, Taliban-like regimes that would promote terrorism and be hostile to American interests. Should the U.S. continue to promote democracy overseas? Should it center its endeavors around some other goals? Or should it simply stick to its own knitting?”