We will do business with dictators and strongmen or do business with the people who do business with dictators or strongmen. Isolationism went out in 1941. On 9/11, once again in our history, we found out that sitting back and being a spectator makes us as much or a target as being involved. We don't have a choice but to be involved in the affairs of the Middle East. Their problems quickly become our problems. The only choice we have is HOW to be involved. I'm afraid at this point our two choices are help them to be free or genocide. I think that by arguing against their freedom that you are increasing the chances for genocide.
We walked away from Afghanistan after the cold war, we failed to confront Bin Laden and failed to require Saudi Arabia to liberalize.
Perhaps poor policy choices but hardly isolationism. Or are you forgetting the 1st Gulf War; our forays in Africa; our forays in the Balkans; our forays in Panama (and no, not the place in the Van Halen song); the Oslo Accord; etc.?
What was Gulf War 1? And all the bases around the Middle East that didn't close after #1? Which if I remember properly was one on bin Laden many problems with the USA. You mean that isolationism?