the political answer to this question, is b, but in general, it was our desire to not get involved unless we got directly attacked, or brought into the conflict overseas.... Same applies to ww2, we were dragged into it by our hair, kicking and screaming, and as a result, we bombed the hell out of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then proceeded to invade Europe driving the Nazi Regime out of allied territory, and to exterminate the Nazi vermin of the Third Reich lead by Adolf Hitler.