[vundercind]

The “friendlier” nation-building stuff, from being invited to help (as in the original example) to installing new states in countries we’ve conquered (you see now why the quotes on “friendlier”).

Less so the coups. Usually with those we just want some degree of fealty or alignment. Dictators are easier to predict and control in that way, and one fuck of a lot cheaper to install than a functioning democracy.