I think Buchanan is well aware of the US' agency, and he's a very well educated man on these issues, so I don't think that what he says can ever be attributed to ignorance. I remember several years ago hearing an interview with Condoleeza Rice during the time she was Sec'y of State. In the interview she was asked about some seemilgy apparent American hypocrisy, and her reply was something to the effect of "Diplomacy isn't about making people happy; it's about getting the best deal for the US." I think that's the issue here. Some people see humanitarianism as the goal of international politicking, and others see self preservation as the goal. Buchanan falls squarely into the latter camp. It's an absolutely fundamental difference in philosophy that can't be reconciled by any amount of argument.