Jeffrey Donavan, who plays Michael, says Michael loves his country above anyone else, why? Ok, my take:
Michaels mother (Madeline), Sharon Gless, raised Michael as a Mormon. Then when things soured (the husband ran off with another woman?) she took up smoking and drinking (she really does not enjoy it but it is her little revenge on the hubby, each time she thinks of him (like when she see's Michael, who resembles his father in more ways than she likes). Now Michael is not a Mormon but something makes him believe that defending "Gods Country" will somehow make things right ( his childhood guilt for splitting up his family, which is not true but lots of kids do think this) between him and God. But when 'God's Country' seems more and more like it is ruled by no angels....Michael has some searching to do, Demons and Angels searching...Yah, it's late here.