"never the obvious call"? I'd say it's fairly obvious on this one. if ET showed up (ask tvash) and saw the carnage that US foreign policy has bequeathed upon the world, there wouldn't be much room for equivocation. but before you get all wound up: other countries have fucked shit up too! amazing! no self-hate needed.
but you are right about the sociopathy charge: i think psychopathy is more fitting, with a touch of psychosis. i mean, check it out: george bush all of a sudden starts believing in a guy who claimed to talk to god some 2,000 years ago. ok, so this part i'm cool with; i think i've talked to god too! but here's the hard part: this 2,000 year old god-talker named jesus said hey humanoids, love each other. blessed are the peace-makers. god says to chill out and turn the other cheek. if you do anything , at least don't hurt others.
so here's this self-proclaimed born-again christian who has taken jesus the peace-monger as his personal saviour and unequivocal leader , yet somehow finds the capacity to attack a defenseless country with the largest most sophisticated army in the history of mankind, KILLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.
if the above does not fit the diagnostics of psychosis and psychopathy, then the terms are meaningless and entirely political in nature.
By your argument, Lincoln, Truman and FDR are all psychopaths.