I cite Thomas Jefferson, who dispatched the entire fleet to have "regime change" in Tripoli, WITHOUT A DECLARATION OF WAR but with only a joint resolution (which he then used to declare war, not only on Tripoli, but on all states aligned with Tripoli---can you say "with us or with the terrorists?")
Jefferson's war was highly effective. We had to go back one more time, under Jimmy Madison, but both were brief, to the point, resulted in "regime change," and pretty much that was it until the 1970s from that region.
Interventionist does not mean permanent, nor does it mean costly. In the entire Tripolitan Wars, we lost, I think, two ships (one of which we burned ourselves) and sent a grand total of 8 Marines.
No, some wars are defensive without any intention of intervening in another countries affairs save to stop any aggression
I cite Thomas Jefferson, who dispatched the entire fleet to have "regime change" in Tripoli
Jefferson certainly did not dispatch the fleet to have regime change. The fleet was dispatched to protect US shipping and when war had been declared on the U.S.. There appears to have been a plan to reestablish the previous ruler of Tripoli, but this plan was abandoned.
Interventionist does not mean permanent, nor does it mean costly.
In the 21st century, it means both.