I think there's something to the IQ comment I made earlier. If adversary A claims the adversary B is doing a terrible thing, that thing doesn't materialize, the smart money isn't to be like "oh well B is only not doing it because they are sinister."
Or say another way - if "they are evil" whether they do X or opposite of X, whoever is setting up that story for you is full of shit.
So you're saying because famine didn't appear right away, they weren't doing anything wrong? So if I come with a shotgun to your house and you say "he's going to shoot me" I waited an hour before realizing the cops weren't coming and shooting you. In that intervening hour, is it a low IQ argument to say that I'm going to shoot you, but I haven't for fear of consequences?
Or say another way - if "they are evil" whether they do X or opposite of X, whoever is setting up that story for you is full of shit.