At this stage, yes, but the trick is causing just enough confusion to mean that by the time people figure out the real goal, it's too late to do anything about it.
Personally, I think any superpower should be very wary of the fallacy of 'The end justifies the means', whether those ends are defending the populace, overthrowing an oppressive regime or even preventing Terrorism.
I don't think any power can claim to be not guilty of falling into that trap.
I think any non-superpower should be wary of superpowers that use the "The end justifies the means" argument...
Why just non-Superpower? Anyone, anywhere can be caught in that trap, Superpower or not. Look at things like the Patriot Act or recent revelations about the NSA.
Well, consider the following, completely fictional example:
Superpower A has been displaying their belief that might makes right by waging their dirty wars in third world countries, unencumbered by international law, for decades. Then the world finds out that, yes, they also find it necessary and proportionate to spy on their closest allies, including effectively the entire population. They also sabotage secure communications channels for everybody.
Meanwhile, (semi-)superpower B has been nibbling away at neighbouring countries, and decides to just take bites out of them whenever they feel like it.
This is timed in such a manner that the rest of the word effectively has to choose which of these to resist, because there is no third power that steps up to oppose both.
I think it was some terrible "Aliens vs. Predator" movie that had the the appropriate tagline: "whoever wins, we lose."
