A great percent goes on because the public is unaware because they don't have the knowledge, expertise or interest to spot it. Sometimes it's also an ostrich thing along with a false pride/vanity/arrogance thing, especially when it comes to doing bad things in other nations or pretending one's shit doesn't stink. For example, I've linked this video before when I've seen some Canadians who like to take the piss out of Americans on 'principles' who pretend their are saintly types in international affairs, which is hardly the case, e.g., YouTube - Guatemalan police & army perform illegal evictions Jan 2007 YouTube - Skye Resources Limited Mining in Guatemala or remind them on military matters about their awful behaviour in Somalia in 1993, e.g.,: Somalia Affair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia when talking smack about Abu Ghraib with a holier than thou approach, I remind them of that stuff. Or how they did the Japanese-Canadians worse in WWII with not only detention camps but also even seizing, i.e., stealing, their properties, etc. There's lots of shame along with fame for the 'good nations.' Nobody's perfect.