We should tell our kids to just have fun participate and not get bent on winning or losing. But every coach when they say that they say it tongue in cheek 'Don't worry about winning': If you win I'll get you ice cream but if you lose I'm going to pout in the car.
A great power has to have the discipline not only to go when necessary but to know when not to go. Getting involved in ethnic religious civil wars is a recipe for disaster.
