So according to your logic, you respect the terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks because they acted on what they believed in- that the US was evil. By your logic, you respect the people who killed over 3,000 innocent people because they thought it was the "right thing to do". I'm so glad that I live in a world where people think that what was done that day was right.
I respect them RELATIVE to how much I respect a group of soldiers who killed a similar number of innocent people because they were ordered to. There's a big difference between that and saying I actually respect them.
You could alternatively say I despise them less, if that's more agreeable.
You could alternatively say I despise them less, if that's more agreeable.