Hindsight is always 20/20, definitely. In the present, in the act of behaving, taking action or pursing cause no one believes they are a bad guy. To my original point about the behavior of Russia (my response to the other poster, I just realized you were the other poster ...), Im sure they believe they are acting in their best interest for their own good. So to be shocked by Russia's behavior from their standpoint is useless, just as to evaluate the US's behavior over the past 10 years. No one seems themselves as a bad guy in the present.