The spirit lust for the flesh and the flesh lust for the spirit.
These principalities you speak of are very real and they do manifest in evil forces against good.
We have territorial spirits also that don't give a hoot if you pray for the USA or the world, but just try and pray for the area that they control. They go berserk and come against you not to pray for anything they control.
Last, but not least remember who the Big Daddy of all principalities is ... He is our Lord Jesus Christ who has been given all authority and power in heaven and in earth.
Notice in these verses that God controls the enemies Israel by getting Gog to attack Israel and then defeats Gog for doing what he led them to do in order to bring glory to His name.
Ezekiel 38:14–23 (NCV)
14 “So prophesy, human, and say to Gog, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Now that my people Israel are living in safety, you will know about it. 15 You will come with many people from your place in the far north. You will have a large group with you, a mighty army, all riding on horses. 16 You will attack my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. This will happen in the days to come when I bring you against my land. Gog, then the nations will know me when they see me prove how holy I am in what I do through you.
17 “ ‘This is what the Lord God says: You are the one about whom I spoke in past days. I spoke through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for many years that I would bring you against them. 18 This is what will happen: On the day Gog attacks the land of Israel, I will become very angry, says the Lord God. 19 With jealousy and great anger I tell you that at that time there will surely be a great earthquake in Israel. 20 The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild animals, everything that crawls on the ground, and all the people on the earth will shake with fear before me. Also the mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21 Then I will call for a war against Gog on all my mountains, says the Lord God. Everyone’s sword will attack the soldier next to him. 22 I will punish Gog with disease and death. I will send a heavy rain with hailstones and burning sulfur on Gog, his army, and the many nations with him. 23 Then I will show how great I am. I will show my holiness, and I will make myself known to the many nations that watch. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’