[itsoktocry]

>Maybe the stability that was there was hard one.

Stability is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition.

Propping up dictators because they are "stable" is something the West has done - to little success - for a long time.

[throwaway769879]

Toppling dictators because they are "evil" is something the West has done - to little success - for a long time

[andrepd]

The West never toppled one dictator for being "evil". It toppled many for not being profitable.