Even China, though highly insensitive to democratic principles, is discovering, with the dangerous spread of AIDS, an obligation to listen to popular clamor, and the need for public support to justify government actions. The US, owing to its horrific treatment and torture of prisoners in Baghdad, has had no option but to search for international legitimacy after denying and defying it for so long, in order to extricate itself from the chaos and drama of what is now Iraq.
甚至连对民主原则高度迟钝的中国在艾滋病蔓延的过程中也发现了倾听公众呼声的义务和为政府行为赢得公众支持的必要性。美国由于在巴格达的虐囚事件也不得不寻求国际社会的谅解以求从伊拉克目前的混乱闹剧中解脱出来。而在此之前，美国长期以来一直对国际合法性持拒绝和挑衅的态度。