Yet another fascism-y thing the US did before the people who call themselves fascist.

Could we be the “authoritarian” ones? No, we’re just being defensive.

Came here to say this, Burkina Faso, and some LatAm should be at least ambiguous.

Early 2000’s Putin also wanted to join NATO…

I definitely agree it would help if these people would visit and see for themselves. However, I think the propaganda point is more complicated than you portray. Many people are convinced US enemies are bad, not because primarily because they are tricked, but because it makes them feel better. They can feel better about their own circumstances in the west if they can say "at least I'm not in (insert enemy country)." This works in a peculiar way on the western left where it may work for them to think "It's not our fault that we aren't anywhere near socialism. It's all China/Deng's fault for betraying the revolution and bringing new life to capitalism. Now all the real socialism is on it's back foot." Those that aren't total doomers from that thinking may add "maybe we could have an international revolution liberating us and the Chinese people from their chains." This all ties in with the martyr fetish thing.

Another dynamic is contrarianism. Communists don't want to believe the CIA/news/etc. The news says China's an authoritarian socialist hellscape. The western Communist is confused. Are they good but not socialist? Are they still authoritarian but not socialist? Then they think of the other things mentioned in this thread or remember Lenin's approach to the international situation around WWI and conclude China's a rival imperialist. "China's obviously doing capitalism so well that they are beating the old imperialists. They claim it's socialist and uphold Mao in words because people know socialism is good." This totally makes sense if you don't engage in Chinese theory. It also makes sense when some of China's most ardent English language supporters are clear revisionists. I'm speaking of the "Patriotic Socialists" and those like Micheal Hudson.

Iran should just smash them at this point.

True, but an alternate history is more realistic than another revolution now. Obviously there could be a revolutionary situation eventually, idk what the future looks like for them.

side 1 is funding the worst part of side 2

“If you’re saying side 1 bad then you must mean you want me to support side 2.” 🤓

“Joe Manchin, we are going to ruin your fucking life if you don’t help us pass the green new deal”

Average US soldier be like

Someone will have to find the one Hakim referenced.

The IMF has accepted the first debt payment in Yuan. There have been plenty of currency swaps between BRICS countries and others to help them trade without the US Dollar. The Dollar is losing its seat as the currency of international trade. Thus the US can no longer be the imperialist hegemon.