[alienthrowaway]

> And a shitload of countries in the hold of some warlord or other despot, or like Libya

Ironic for you to being up Libya as its collapse was instigated by the same former colonisers that couldn't stand Qaddafi - France nad friends. The results were deplorable, unimaginable levels slavery and waves of immigration to Europe via Libya due to it's now-porous borders have in turn destabilised Europe. Combined with other "interventions" by western counties in the middle east - Afghanistan, Syria. The argument that imperialism results in stability is false on it's face given recent history starting from the moment the first missiles were fired to kick off the war on terror.