I't s bit more subtle than that. You need to look at it from a different perspective: corruption is fuel for dictators that are openly your enemy way more than

I't s bit more subtle than that. You need to look at it from a different perspective: corruption is fuel for dictators that are openly your enemy way more than you think. It's almost like a cheat code. Dictators are not concerned about corruption in their own countries because they hold the entire supply chain. No one in an authoritarian regime would dare to call out the authorities/dictators on their corruption. If anything, they will outright deny it or reject it even if you shove it in their face: some for fear of their own well being, probably more because they are a product of not just single oppressed generation and propaganda, but multiple centuries and dozens of generations. To them, this is the only reality that exists. Ronald Reagan's joke[1] might sound like a joke but this is in fact very much the mentality we are dealing with. And the current US administration's actions are playing beautifully for russia, china, etc. Same for dictator wannabes here in Europe. And even if they get caught lying(which they do on daily basis), all they have to tell their citizens is: "look at {insert_anything} that {democratic_country_where_criticism_is_not_prohibited} is doing". They are basically hijacking legitimate opposition: they criticize the US government for instance, portraying them as bad, regardless of who is behind the wheel and are benefiting the most from the least competent ones in charge: the least competent ones do a terrible job, but because they get criticized in the same way by local opposition and foreign enemies, the local opposition gets automatically associated with the foreign enemy and invalidating anything they say,. And thus, ensuring that blind and delusional supporters will stick with the current status quo no matter what. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qh-1_tXeuQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qh-1_tXeuQ