The case of U.S. interventionism has been brought to the attention of Americans ever since the revamping of American foreign policy in 1823, with President James Monroe’s articulation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Since then, the U.S. empire has seemingly expanded and played a role in almost every global conflict, including both World Wars, Vietnam, and, presently, the Middle East.

Ironically, President Woodrow Wilson’s campaign platform in 1916 was led by the slogan, “He kept us out of war.”

The same Wilson would deliver us the Fourteen Points speech on Jan. 8, 1918, and came to conclude that U.S. intervention in the Great War was a moral cause. He also established the League of Nations, which would become the modern day UN.

The U.S. has preserved the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness countless times, from the American Revolution, to the protection of civilians in Libya in Operation Odyssey Dawn.

The current interventionist question at hand is of U.S. involvement in Syria.  We should not be involved with Syria.

I quote the Huffington Post editorial of Yale Literature professor David Bromwich: “The way out of the war is always peace. The way out is not limited, well-tailored, well-spoken, discreet, ‘smart’ shots across the bow which you pretended are not war.”

By intervening in Syria, are we not creating more enemies than friends? Every civilian who will be caught in the crossfire will have family members, friends, relatives, and associates, touched by the death of an admired one.

Our “plight of justice” can easily translate into a call for arms against the U.S. It is also very plausible that President Bashar al-Assad could take the attack of his forces as a green light to kill more civilians.

The U.S. never declared that this was humanitarian intervention. We simply wanted to enforce the global regulations against chemical weapons.

Our intervention in Syria can only do more harm than good. Yes, 1,400 people were killed by chemical weapons. But that is what happens in wars. We should take the road of diplomacy, and be ready to condone those in the world who choose to corrupt and destroy lives.