How should a nation-state develop its foreign policy in accordance to its values and in connection to the development of its domestic policy?

I came across this video that Wes Clark speaks about America’s foreign policy coup.  In this video he talks about what has been going on with to our foreign policy as far as the Middle East is concerned.  He states that no one knew why our troops were in the Middle East.  He says that there was a plan in the next 5 years to invade and promote democracy in 7 different countries such as Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan.  What I like about the video is he pretty much says that he didn’t know the only way to be effective with our military and foreign policy was to start wars with other countries to promote democracy.  By doing so, our main goal for our foreign policy is to show other countries how powerful we are and not to promote democracy.  There are ways to go about promoting democracy that are peaceful.  Having talks with leaders of countries that the U.S. wants to promote democracy is a start.  It will take a while to get done.  I believe that is the problem.  Our leaders want the instant gratification.  They want results now.  By just going out and starting wars that gets what they want.  By going the peaceful route, it will take a long period of time just to get to the point of deciding to keep on talking or take action such as war.

When are we going to promote democracy peacefully? When are we going to focus more on our own problems rather than international problems? We still have problems with our economy and health care.  So why is it we are starting to be involved now in another war with Libya? That doesn’t make any sense.