> I don't understand what you're saying here.

You clearly did, US is acting out of pure self interest and pretending otherwise.

> Second, you're portraying US as a malicious actor operating in a vacuum

Invading a foreign nation, stealing their resources and imprisoning thier leader is a malicious act, no matter how you slice it.

Just because there are other competitors or good "may" come out of it (so you say), doesn't justify it.

The mental gymnastics by Americans to position themselves as "liberators", while bombing other countries and stealing their territory / resources is stunning.