Because of this, i do believe that forcefully intervening to stop wholesale slaughter of innocent people is justified. When we do, I believe that is following Jesus's will. America is great because she is good. On the other hand, nobody intervened in Rwanda to their everlasting shame. Or Cambodia. Or a number of other hellholes.
I don't believe in intervening when two sides are slaughtering each other (Bosnia). A pox on both their houses.
I come from the place that believes we will all be accountable for our actions one day to God. I do not want to stand in front of Him and have him say, "why did you not do anything to stop this?"
Now, I have never been a servicemember, but I do work for one of the services in a civilian capacity (not gonna say which one.). I consider my work to be a form of service as I do my activism.
Sheltonmac can verify that I am no bushbot. Normally, I might agree with your point of view in terms of being what some call "uber-Conservative", but not after hearing Aziz Al-Taee speak of quite a few cousins (maybe two dozen?) being murdered by Saddam, the body of one of them being delivered to his front door in a bag along with a bill for the bullets.
I am sorry for your loss. I (intellectually) understand your bitterness, but since I have not lost any family member in war (at least not since the Civil War), I cannot claim to completely understand it on an emotional level. There but for the grace of God go i.
Hope this explanation helps. 'Pod