I look at U.S. foreign policy like a fiduciary responsibility. It's supposed to work for the shareholders: the American people. It's an imperfect analogy, but I tend to see the international landscape like a commercial environment.
Others seem to view it as like a religion. 1/

In a business environment, you can of course have friends, but your job is to do right by your company and your shareholders. Same for them. It's well understood. It's a competitive marketplace. Everyone has a job. 2/

For many, though, it seems like U.S. foreign policy is supposed to fulfill some teleological - almost millenarian - purposes.
My view is my religion is my religion. 3/

Great line from Kissinger's Diplomacy:
"The great British Conservative Prime Minister Harold MacMillan was once asked what his government would do to help the British people find a sense of purpose in their lives..." 4/

"Replied MacMillan (who was a pious Anglican): "If people want a sense of purpose they should get it from their archbishop. They should certainly not get it from their politicians." 5/