>Clinton is right. I think the gradual democratization of the world over the past two centuries points up to that. OTOH, geopolitics is not a beauty pageant and I frankly don't think we should give too much weight to how the rest of the world "thinks" about us as long as we stick to our principles. As long as we're the first there in time of trouble, offering help, feeding vast populations, leading the fight against world disease and hunger I'd rather be unpopular and effective than otherwise.

Do you really think the US is a leader in this respect? Seems a bit out of touch of reality to me.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_aid_don_pergdp-economic-aid-donor-per-gdp

Also, the US did not make a particular good impression when it needed help themselves in New orleans three years ago.

The single most important task the US has on their agenda is maintain their empire. Geopolitics are a neccesity in order to achieve that goal. Granted, it also tries to impose our western values to the rest of the world, but it sometimes in their enthousiasm also seems to overlook that the world is more complex and you cannot enforce change by force.

Again, the US is not a charity. It never has been and never will be.