When, finally, Vietnam invaded Cambodia in late 1978 to remove Pol Pot, the U.S. denounced the operation as an act of aggression rather than acknowledge that the invasion would terminate a regime of Naziesque evil.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

The administration came to town thinking that America's problems with Iran were largely self-inflicted -- a combination of "Axis of Evil" and "regime change" rhetoric, an invasion that gave Iran a reasonable motive for wanting to arm itself with nuclear weapons, and an unwillingness to try to settle differences in face-to-face talks.

WSJ: Obama's Obsolete Iran Policy

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, however, hardened Muslim attitudes towards the Evil Empire, and legions of young fighters streamed to Central Asia to defend the faith.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Vindicating the Islamists