3) interfering in local and regional politics, e.g. installing and supporting several leaders who ruined their people's lives (Saddam, that Iranian guy, probably Egypt)
Good lord, that goes for the entire planet. The Taliban, as well. South America... This was one of the key elements to how things were run during the Cold War. Russia did the same thing. The agitators who cite this as an example simply lack any historical knowledge.
And there's the great issue, eh? Revisionist history on the part of the entire planet runs America out as the scapegoat simply because we're not only the last man standing, but we're a rather unique nation in terms of society and politics. Beating up on Russia for committing similar -- and far, far, far greater crimes during the Cold War -- seems pathetic. Like kicking the crippled kid.
We may be guilty of sins over the last 50 years, but we didn't commit those sins out of malevolence. Paranoia, political naivete...okay. It is clear to the world that we, as a nation, are not guilty but are, instead, driven by a core group of "fanatics," whether they be industrial or political. The days of painting the enemy as baby-eating gorillas is over because everyone everywhere is plugged in.
But fanatics drive the population. It's the great flaw of democracy. The 5-10%, if ever in a position of power, often speak for the majority. Basic survival.
I've always viewed terrorism as an attempt to wake us up and get us active against the ruling minority. Of course, it backfires with us because, since we were brought in from the farmhouse schools to the cluster schools we've been trained to march to war and machine gun Waffen-SS.
