Regards Ron Paul’s idiotic statements and comparison between countries, there’s another factor, such as regarding the US “installation” of the Shah of Iran in the 1950’s. If your country’s government is so weak and non-democratic or non-representational that the CIA (think Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson types) can “overthrow” your government and “install” a different one, then you’re a pathetic excuse for a country and probably a lot better off with whatever government the US has “installed” than running it yourselves. Part of being a responsible polity is making sure your government represents you. It’s long since time these third-world pits learned that. And it’s stupid to apologize for things that were necessary to do 50 years ago.
Ron Paul isn’t suggesting that we apologize for anything we’ve done or even that we stop installing dictators with the CIA when it suits our purpose. Ron Paul’s point is that we should consider the ramifications of what we do instead of blustering about like a bull in a china shop.