Stability or Democracy - That is the question http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103000828.html

Stability has been the main focus of US policy since (at least) the end of World War II. Reagan made a few steps towards democracy, but only a few. The first major policy shift occured with the invasion of Iraq. There are still many in the US government advocating "realpolitik" so there will be setbacks. However, Rumsfeld and Bush's war was a revolutionary shift in foreign policy and it will have an impact for many years to come.  ¶ 5:16 PM