New Delhi, July 4 -- The war in Iran had just started. I was meeting an American friend for coffee in San Francisco. There were "No Kings" posters on shop windows around us, symbols of protest against US President Donald Trump. San Francisco is a liberal bastion so that was not too surprising. Nor was it surprising that my friend was aghast about the war.

"It's so embarrassing travelling anywhere as an American," she said. "People are either upset with you. Or they look at you with pity."

I agreed. Then she said, "It's terrible. We were supposed to be the good guys."

I remember looking at her quizzically. I am no expert in American foreign policy but even I could not but be aware of the country's patchy record on democracy in many part...