U.S. demonization of an enemy leader, or military action against
him, tends to strengthen rather than weaken his hold on power. Take the
list of current regimes most singled out for U.S. attack, and put it alongside
of the list of regimes that have had the longest hold on power, and you
will find they have the same names. Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, and others
may have faced greater internal criticism if they could not portray themselves
as Davids standing up to the American Goliath, and (accurately) blaming
many of their countries' internal problems on U.S. economic sanctions.

One of the most dangerous ideas of the 20th century was that "people
like...

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U.S. demonization of an enemy leader, or military action against
him, tends to strengthen rather than weaken his hold on power. Take the
list of current regimes most singled out for U.S. attack, and put it alongside
of the list of regimes that have had the longest hold on power, and you
will find they have the same names. Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, and others
may have faced greater internal criticism if they could not portray themselves
as Davids standing up to the American Goliath, and (accurately) blaming
many of their countries' internal problems on U.S. economic sanctions.

One of the most dangerous ideas of the 20th century was that "people
like us" could not commit atrocities against civilians.

German and Japanese citizens believed it, but their militaries slaughtered
millions of people.

British and French citizens believed it, but their militaries fought
brutal colonial wars in Africa and Asia.

Russian citizens believed it, but their armies murdered civilians in
Afghanistan, Chechnya, and elsewhere.

Israeli citizens believed it, but their army mowed down Palestinians
and Lebanese.

Arabs believed it, but suicide bombers and hijackers targeted U.S.
and Israeli civilians.

U.S. citizens believed it, but their military killed hundreds of thousands
in Vietnam, Iraq, and elsewhere.