Quote Originally Posted by Bob's World View Post
Yes, yes, I am quite aware of the recipe for sustaining illegitimate and despotic rule over ones own populace or the populace of others. Nothing new or insightful there.
...but you cannot say what is despotic or illegitimate. The US President tells you what is legitimate and what is not. He is a politician and his statements are very relative, changeable and imprecise.

There is no bench-mark for legitimacy. You just have a political opinion as to what is legitimate.
What I speak to is how to actually address the root causes. Suppression of those who dare to challenge you is easy enough.
...but you are no qualified to address them or know what the root causes are. You just want your version of power in place, which would be pro-US and thus in the eyes of many could in no way be legitimate.
Resolving such situations is another matter entirely, and it cannot be resolved through the principles of war or through the conduct of warfare.
History does not support that statement.