Bill Clinton would agree with you - he believed in success by any means as well. Tell that to the writers of hte Decl. of Independence who believed in the absolute moral rights (given by God) of life and liberty.
Would your "absolute" moral principle have allowed you to ally with Stalin against Hitler or would it required you to stand aloof and go down in defeat?
And because we made nice with Stalin, the Cold War resulted. We should have crushed Russia when we were done with Germany as Patton suggested. Bad things happen when you stray from right and wrong. Bush wants to intervene in Liberia yet does nothing about 2 million christians slaughtered in Sudan. Want to talk about moral alliances?
Or would it prevent you from allying with slave owners in fighting for American independence and, thus, remaining part of the British Empire? Overall goals require de-emphasis at times of principles not entirely consistent with tactical needs.
The slavery issue ended in the bloodiest war in our nation's history. Allowing that wrong resulted in a judgment on our nation (read Lincoln's 2nd inaugural speech). Men are sinners - all men, and all are corrupted by power. That's why we have checks and balances. Tell you what - you follow your own moral compass or Bush's moral compass, and I will follow God's.