Whether "vital interests" or "national interests" or whatever, it is true that such things should be defined. Do such things include telephone monopolies? Vital pineapple resources? Mineral and oil rights on lands we don't own? "Intellectual property rights" enforcement?
Get people talking and one discovers that potential off shore oil drilling areas outside of Cuba and natural gas deposits in Bolivia are apparently part of our national interest. Or vital interest. Or whatever.
Hey, I might even be persuaded if the return on taxpayer investment wasn't so obviously shitty... for the taxpayers at least. Sending out the libertarian bat signal!
