Legality set aside (I agree on your points on the repercussions), "the West" isn't that unified when it comes to middle east and other areas where the US meddled a lot. In particular, EU countries can have a way more nuanced view on it and be quite pissed at US' positions.
Which can make the author's perception of it more complex. They'll find people who are genuinely sympathetic, but still absolutely refusing to cross the bridge.
Legality set aside (I agree on your points on the repercussions), "the West" isn't that unified when it comes to middle east and other areas where the US meddled a lot. In particular, EU countries can have a way more nuanced view on it and be quite pissed at US' positions.
Which can make the author's perception of it more complex. They'll find people who are genuinely sympathetic, but still absolutely refusing to cross the bridge.