Thanks. It was long.
To me it feels pessimistic and defeated. Not defeatist, defeated.
The Iraq war was a success. Its goals were accomplished.
The security goal was accomplished in that we, nor anyone, was nuked and our knowledge on that possibility was greatly increased.
The strategic goals were met. A civil society was beginning to take effect in Iraq, the US had a mid-East Arab ally and bases in the region from which to operate to snuff out Islamist elements as need be.
When Obama evacuated troops, that is when it went to Hell.
Since writing that we have gone from success to sucess.