In "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq," Stephen Kinzer discusses a pivotal moment in American perception of its military. He highlights how many Americans had a strong belief that their soldiers were set apart from others due to their moral standing and the righteousness of their cause. This idealized view held that American forces operated on a higher ethical level compared to military personnel from other nations.

However, the episode in question challenged this notion, prompting a reassessment of the American military’s actions and the assumptions underlying their perceived moral superiority. Kinzer suggests that this critical moment forced many to confront the complexities and moral ambiguities inherent in warfare, revealing a more nuanced reality about soldiers and the motivations behind military interventions.