Scans_Daily

Don't forget that Tony fought the Registration in DC until it became the law. The Amazing Spider-Man arc leading up to Civil War was one of the few times JMS wrote Tony sympathetically in regards to the SRA, even if he did destroy some of that by having him set up an attack by Titanium Man.

When he assumed control of SHIELD he did so because he knew that it would be better if he were in charge than somebody less sympathetic towards superheroes(and was proven right when Norman Osborn took over). When he did try to apprehend heroes it was often justified as an alternative to having Osborn's Thunderbolts going after them, which would be more likely to end in someone's death.

I don't think he'd do Clor again and without Criti Noll's influence it would likely never come to be, but he had a reason for doing what he did during Civil War and the Initiative.

I actually like that he stands by his actions despite not being able to remember them. It shows some commitment to his characterization that they wouldn't just give up on it because some people didn't like it. Not everybody agrees.

Look at the US government(and assumedly the government of any country with elected officials). People with drastically-different views get elected to the same governing body, honestly believing they're right despite somebody with the exact same qualifications believing the exact opposite on the other side of the aisle. It doesn't mean one side is evil or even wrong. It just means they believe otherwise.