Interesting point, Bill. But as far as I can see, the result is the same. The strong prevail over the weak, at the expense of both.

pdq, when the West takes oil from a country like Iraq, it's not taking it from Saddam. It's taking it from the Iraqis; the people who have been inhabiting the region for longer than Europeans have been inhabiting North America. Your argument is certainly one of "might makes right".