Out of Iraq, Into the World

It's foreign policy day in Denver, so I've been taking a walk through the 94-page Democratic Party Platform. This bit seems important (page 33):

            "We believe we must also be willing to consider using military force in circumstances beyond self defense in order to provide for the common security that underpins global stability-to support friends, participate in stability and reconstruction operations, or confront mass atrocities."

Um, I could be wrong, but isn't that a fairly radical new doctrine on the use of military force? At the very least, it would certainly allow a wide range of interventions overseas. There are probably a dozen situations in the world today that would meet this test. Indeed, on page 39, we get this gem:

            "We will defend democracy and stand up for the rule of law when it is under assault, such as Zimbabwe."

The 82nd Airborne maybe be coming home from Iraq in an Obama Administration, but they might want to keep their duffle bags by the door.