Even in the past, US was more of a gangster supporting its gang rather than a fair hearted policeman. Its support to Pakistan during Bangladesh (East Pakistan) genocide is well known.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archer_Blood#The_Blood_Telegra...

Or the Indonesian genocide. Or giving Pol Pot diplomatic cover as soon as they saw him as an enemy to Vietnam. Or couping essentially every country in Latin America.

The "policeman" narrative has always been propaganda.

The key point is not what they have done (too many examples of bad behavior to list.)

The key point is how they see themselves. The average American sees the US as "the good guys". This is not a self-image lightly over-turned. Regardless of how the rest of the world views them.

This is subjective, but I think this image wasn't uncommon in US-aligned countries either, but at least this seems to have changed in the last decade or so.

> The "policeman" narrative has always been propaganda.

Or just reflects American views of what cops are for; thumping minorities.

That describes most nations or polities going back to prehistory. It's unfortunately not the part of America's power projection that is unique.

You mean state, not nation.

Anyway the part that makes the us unique is pretending to be ethical, which makes a farce of the entire concept of ethics. Admitting the entire concept of america is based on justification via violence would be a massive step forward

Why do you think the US and it's empire pretending to have the moral high ground is "unique"?

Great Britain at the height of her power was insistent that they were "Civilizing" people they oppressed, and Rome did much the same.

Yes the farce is transparent