Your political reputation affects how likely allies are to trust you and what kind of deals they'll offer at the negotiating table. There's also some emotional response in there so factions do bear grudges. Just like the real thing.
If the security forces continue to be dominated as they are now by political groups or sects then the people won't trust in them – and the result will be civil war or fragmentation of the country.
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A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.