It all makes sense... Repressing democracy at home is a necessary precondition in order to credibly project force abroad.
The Chinese do it (and we know they are right, because even we are afraid of them).

So we better hurry up and be grateful that our leaders are happy to do it too.

What pansy-ass kint of a superpower would *we* be if we allowed our policies to be shackled at the balletbox by the enlightened self-interest of our citizens?

Giovanni