Thank you for this. The war was, and continues to be a multi $$$ trillion dollar mistake, not to mention an unnecessary bloodbath. My heart goes out to our brave kids who fought and were killed and injured there. In the future let people free themselves from tyrannical governments, rather than the US poking it’s nose in where it doesn’t belong. Trump’s instincts are right about foreign military intervention.
We all entitled to our own opinions, but not our own facts.
Trump is an islationist? why are we in Sudan/HOA? Why are we in SYR/IRQ/AFG etc? Hmm, not fitting that narrative very well, espc with his NOK and KSA and RUS and IRN and … stances.
All wars are the result of mistakes in diplomacy, but often diplomacy only is one sided. Perhaps we should have done more diplomacy, perhaps not. Regarding the “bloodbath” part, why s it that now the story line misses the fact that the world’s jihadis’ found it easier to attack armed troops in IRQ than in say, Los Angeles? Think about it, some 10k know and identified foreign fighters from all over the Muslim world came to IRQ to die, where we were rather free and able to help them meet their end. Glad they did and didn’t decide to come to the US and seek their revenge.
AQI was a threat, Saddam invited them to IRQ, they were involved in 9/11 etc.
To me, the horror was not OIF 03-14, but the abandonment of the fledgling Representative Republic by Obama and congress in 14-16. It took nearly 40 years post WWII to see Germany stable and safe, why only 6-8 for IRQ?
Don’t get too committed to Trumps “nonintervention” policy-one day someone may just decide to test his resolve regarding his forceful diplomacy. Sooner than later I think.
Trumps’ policy is speak loudly and carry a big stick. I like it, but it works only as long as the opponent has something to lose.
Overall, MAGA is the key- all the parts- economically, militarily and diplomatically. Be too strong in all the above for any other state actor to risk it all.
As one of those who was there multiple times, thanks for your condolences, but our hearts ( as a whole) were in it to win it. Blame Obama for the wasted part. ISIS is Obamas ME legacy, along with failed states like Libya and Sudan and SYR etc.