I wasn't saying they don't have the right to defy the US, I'm saying the US plays its heavy-handed games with many of these smaller countries which rely on our aid. A good example was the lead-up to the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. The "coalition of the willing" was like 40 countries but most were so tiny and/or uninterested in getting involved that their presence was less than 10 troops participating. Several had only one, but to appease the US amid hints they'd lose their financial aid, many made a symbolic move to send a few people and allow Bush to brag about the coalition being 40-strong or whatever the number was. We bully other countries all the time.