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Grammatically, "under its theocratic rulers" is parenthetical to "is not a peace-loving nation that keeps to itself" in these sentences. Arguments about degrees of theocracy aside, the US engages in constant outward violence without peace-loving motive, including sometimes extrajudicially and against civilians.

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The comment to which I replied appears to draw an equivalence of the US and the IR, both in terms of theocracy and pugnacity.

The former charge (ie: that the US and the IR are similarly theocratic) was the more satisfying to rebut, since it's so straightforward.

The latter charge (ie: that the US and the IR are similarly warlike) is less wrong. In a HN comment thread on the internet, my chances are slim of convincing someone who believes it to be spot-on that it isn't.

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