Basically, I find it much easier to believe that your average Longcoat fell victim to propaganda and/or turned a blind eye to things in order to justify their actions than I do the notion that hundreds of people willfully chose to follow an evil leader because they liked exerting power over other people.
Agreed, and thankfully you're the eloquent one.
Also, I'm really curious what made General Lonot defect. There are so many options here.
Fear - he saw the destruction of the other generals. I'm assuming that since he was in charge of the 4th brigade, there were more generals as well. So fear of death, fear of being put in prison.
Pride - Some people cannot comprehend being on the losing side. If the queen is losing, she's weak. If Ahamo left her, and he had by then, then she's not worthy (based off the fact she said Lonot was Ahamo's friend).
Power - He simply wanted to work for the winner, the most powerful being in the O.Z.
Blackmail - from being offered more money to maybe his wife was ill and the witch's magic could heal her (yeah, way out on a limb here -- way, way out). For all we know, all of the queen's resources were tied up in the war and the generals weren't being paid.