An example might be: a democratically-eelcted leader friendly to the U.S. is being deposed via military coup in, say, Africa. Do we then intervene (EMPIRE) or say it is Africa's business? (REPUBLIC)
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This is so rare as to have never arisen, despite the fact that there are 56 African countries on or around that continent.
What the US as a DEMOCRACY does is intervene diplomatically, not militarily. If the gold and diamonds or coltan or whatever is rejected by the US and its allies, and this is publicized, the overthrowing government is likely to resign.
The US rarely defends democracies. It tends to support the overthrow of any anti-American elected governments that come to power. Right now, all I read in the press is how Chavez, Ortega and Morales should be 'taught a lesson'. All were elected by majorities.
US foreign policy is generally run for the convenience and profit of those few oligarchs that really run this country. The Iraq War and how massive propaganda was used to whomp up support to overthrow the evil Saddam. They would prefer that the US be an empire, of course./
The American people have never wanted an empire at all.
