I worked with a fellow who spent about 10 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. When he left, he worked as a mercenary in the civil war in Angola. He said that they got a bonus for killing a Cuban solider and a bigger bonus for killing a Cuban officer. I know this story is anecdotal, but it is within the realm of human experience.

Unfortunately, the west too has had its geopolitical actions that should not have been taken. Add in colonialism and hegemony, even the best of geopolitical decisions are suspect.