You're right, it doesn't. What is does is dramatize this instance as the best choice for this character. Hollywood makes your heart bleed for her (read your post) you know in your heart that the Eastwood character did the right thing.
The whole movie begs the question, why did Hollywood produce it? What was the point? An artistic work about what? What are they trying to say? Why did the producers pick this story?
Because it is a good story. Just because they may agree with the choice in it doesn't make it propaganda. I fail to see how saying it is the right choice in some cases makes it propaganda. That I thought was true long before I ever saw the movie. There are many other movies I would rather ask why Hollywood made than this one. Son of the Mask, I'm looking at you.