I’ve wondered if the Iraq invasion wasn’t a way to enclose Iran in a pincer when we eventually entered Afganistan.
How dare you think for yourself.
“I’ve wondered if the Iraq invasion wasn’t a way to enclose Iran in a pincer when we eventually entered Afghanistan.”
I remember discussion of that idea, back at that time.
But that presumed we had the strategy, tactics, political will to see it through with enough firepower to conquer, dominate and occupy both places.
It soon turned out to not be our plan. Our plan turned out to be “win the hearts and minds” and rely on (unreliable) local forces.
In hindsight we seem to have learned to not try to conquer/dominate/occupy certain hostile countries, to fight terrorism.
We appear to have NOT learned to import refugees from hostile countries.