[tcrlaf]

“That probably wasn’t Reagan’s own thinking”

No, it wasn’t.
It was the American Left’s idea, though. Remember how happy they were to spend the “Peace dividend!” once Clinton took office?

[x]

During the Reagan years, the military did develop standards and criteria to prevent getting involved in unending engagements around the world. Those were disregarded by later administrations.

I'm not saying Reagan would approve of Pat's isolationism and pro-Putinism, but I wouldn't assume that Reagan would have made some of the decisions subsequent presidents did.

A lot of good Republicans and good Americans have been skeptical about some of our involvements abroad over the years, and I wouldn't throw them over just to oblige Washington elites who made some really bad decisions in foreign policy.