I let the track record speak for itself when it comes to determining "upstanding" or not. Nobody outside the fundamentalist islamic religion would call iran upstanding or responsible or moral, even many iranians themselves as is evidanced by their attempts overthrow the current 'government'.
Im not appoligizing for the USA or any other country or justifying any wars recently fought in that region, im simply commenting on your original post regarding the concept of arming oneself for self defense vis a v the NRA et all.