We, meaning the US, was doing this long before the Middle East mess, all in the name of making money. Perry was sent to force the opening of trade with Japan. A strong case can be made that this pushed a Japan that was in most respects, Medieval in its isolationist stand, into the industrial revolution. Out of fear they quickly moved to westernize, creating a powerful, modern military. WWII wasn’t that much later. We can only hope and pray that the current US administration has the knowledge of history to see this.
CenLamar 
We, meaning the US, was doing this long before the Middle East mess, all in the name of making money. Perry was sent to force the opening of trade with Japan. A strong case can be made that this pushed a Japan that was in most respects, Medieval in its isolationist stand, into the industrial revolution. Out of fear they quickly moved to westernize, creating a powerful, modern military. WWII wasn’t that much later. We can only hope and pray that the current US administration has the knowledge of history to see this.