America never really was a "Global Force for Good" in my lifetime (born after 1945). I've experienced the US as being one of the most expansionist powers in modern history that refused to sign most human rights treaties, isn't a party to the International Criminal Court, all too willing to cozy up to dictators and in a state of perpetual war.

The faux "Pax Americana" brought us unprovoked wars, illegal coups, regime changes, shock and awe, ultra-right wing or jihadi proxy armies, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, agent orange, CIA backed mujahideen, death squads, torture, assassinations, extraordinary renditions, black sites, Guantanamo, drone wars, big brother and the surveillance state, etc.