If these things are true, then they are not going to convince the American public. When a Vladimir Putin or a nihilist terrorist group pushes our buttons, the casual viewer will be offended by a nuanced argument about the aggressor.

The problem is that Putin actually is a thug. So was Bin Ladin. How do we persuade the public that it's a bad idea to go out and stop these thugs? Is this a time to start connecting dots, one simple argument at a time? If so, then how?

Is there any chance that the public could believe that Bin Ladin would have been a nobody if the USA had not helped him fight the Soviet Union?

Is there a way to show Americans that if they support interventionism, then NSA surveillance will become even worse?