I’m sure we’re not dumb enough to take out a government again without adequate preparations for another
Contrary to what you say, I believe we were prepared to install another government after our quick defeat of the Bathists and Saddam. What we weren't prepared for NOR did we expect was the terrorist warfare that took hold.
Our MODEL was Afghanistan, and it did NOT hold true there. We won't make that mistake again.
It is truly remarkable that we have accomplished what we have in IRAQ. On a grand scale the terrorism while seemingly dreadfull is really nothing more than a nuisance. I KNOW lives are being lost, ONCE again, on a STRATEGIC MILITARY scale 1250 combat deaths in two years of fighting is very small indeed.