Or, to indulge in a bit of what-if history: the US has supported and comitted atrocities behind that "mask of self-rigtheousness" - but what atrocities were prevented because they had to maintain that image? Could they have done more evil with all that power without that pretense?
Unfortunately, I imagine the answer is yes. 😟
We will find out what happens when the US enables the worst ambitions of the Israelis, Saudis etc in the years ahead.