During the cold war, there were many Americans that believed we should strike the Soviets first with nuclear weapons; a pre-emptive attack.
I'm very glad that we did not. Instead, we used a policy of containment until the Soviet system collapsed under its own weight. Now, the Russian people are working their own way toward democracy without ever having to have been invaded and occupied by the U.S.
Anytime that we strike first, we must be absolutely certain of our facts and absolutely certain that our action will cause the outcome we want. Any country that invades another and then occupies that country will be hugely resented around the world and forces of resistance will spring up and continue until that occupier leaves. This is fundamental to human nature.
If a foreign power ever invaded our country (the U.S.), many people would consider themselves patriots and would do everything and anything to make that foreign power leave our land.