What I think of there is how much suffering did the dictator/offical cause, and how much would they cause, and how does that compare to the suffering incurred by people caught in the cross-fire.
Yeah... It's sucky. But I just don't see any "perfect" way to deal with things. When you start shooting, innocent people get hit. What realistic option is there? Let the monsters rule?
-Renegade
Assassinating the guy is less plausible, less costly, less dangerous than throwing thousands of bombs all over? I really doubt that.
(Sorry for going a bit too off topic: In any case countries that suffer the foreign intervention or bombing fate don't automatically recover, see Afghanistan (not just more recently but 80's and on), Iraq, most former colonies)