Is it normal to think that the Marines are terrorists?

yeah, i should have read this first... "i do believe that oil had nothing to do with it"...basically says it all.

Hey, nightmare, North Korea is acting very treatening towards South Korea again with it's new dictator...maybe you should step in?

Oh wait, no natural resources.

Hey, China is supressing a billion of people in a non-democratic government full with censorship and abuse of individuals.

Oh wait, they are a great trade partner.

Hey, Israel is bullying the palestinians again, threatening countries all around, has weapons of mass destruction etc...

Oh wait, they are allies and a great reason to go to war.

Hey, Indochina has serious terrorist problems, islamic extremists and stuff...

Oh wait, no natural reso....do i see a pattern here?

I think your scenario was very fitting.
Even if you change it around:

If two neighbours are fighting, and one kidnaps the other...the police may come in and take the kidnapper into custody, freeing the victim. Reasonable.
In real world scenario, they took the kidnapper into custody, moved into his house, evicted his family, took everything of value and say it was all to save the neighbour.