Very interesting post, Carol! I think you raise a great many valid points.

When elections are held in Pakistan there is usually a lot of violence too, and much worse violence than is seen now in Iran, but Pakistan is still a USA ally for some reason...

America's allies are not chosen for their commitment to democracy. They are chosen for their willingness to sell their countries out to western corporate control...and for strategic reasons as well, in terms of planning future wars or maintaining existing wars.