We were talking about the US. Other world states are in a different situation - which depends on the country.
As for the US - there is no such thing as it "doing nothing". It has been attacking, occupying, repressing, subverting - all the time, in many places around the world, essentially since it was founded. As have other military empires in history.
I guess, in my head (and I'd love to hear your take on this), the US doing nothing _is_ appeasement.