The point is that the two things are in fact not diametrically opposed. Russia is a capitalist, imperial power. As is the USA. As is Iran and China.

The notion that two things can be bad at once is actually an antidote to the thought terminating cliche of “the enemy of my enemy is my ally”. It encourages to actually analyse the two things that are supposedly diametrically opposed at their own merits.

It used to be common for leftists not to condone any war effort by capitalist/imperialist states, because there is nothing to gain. But now, campist “leftists” (I can use scare-quotes to childishly delegitimize self-proclaimed “leftists”, too) are laser-focused in their anti-americanism that they don’t see what’s happening around them anymore.

When the “lesser” evil is an openly genocidal liberal politician, they bang on and on about how it’s tactical and a step in a direction and trolley problem and blah blah blah.

I agree. Therefore I condone neither politicians nor states. Because “both things” are “bad”, as it were.