Small changes in certain factors have tremendous impact.

1. Putting greater justice into the rule of law

2. Dignity/respect: addressing any formal or traditional forms of discrimination supported by the government.

3. Legitimacy: Appreciating to what degree the populace percieve that the governmetn draws its legitmacy from sources that they recognize, and if not, taking actions to repair those perceptions

4. Creating legal venues for popular input and control of governance.

This is fundamental. All the US need do is recognize that these factors are far more important than silly metrics of effectiveness that we love, and to use our considerable influence to bring these governments and their people to the table, rather than the square, to discuss these issues and to work out reasonable evolutions that make sense within their cultural context, to move incrementally toward a more sustainable future.