I mean, obviously.

But when was the last time our "democratic values" were under attack by a foreign country and actually needed defending?

9/11? Pearl Harbor?

Maybe I'm missing something. We have a giant military and a tendency to use it. On occasion, against democratically elected leaders in other countries.

You're right; freedom isn't free. But foreign countries aren't exactly the biggest threats to American democracy at the moment.

You have the causality at least partially backwards. Why has it been so long and infrequent that the US has been in direct conflict with authoritarian adversaries? Because we have a giant military and a willingness to use it. Pacifism and isolationism do not work as defensive strategies.