And if they fail after we are gone, Islamists will have won a tremendous victory. This will mark, because of what ensues in the following 50 years, as the single worst outcome in U.S. history.
I wholly disagree. Iraq was a terrorist nation before we invaded, and if it becomes so afterwards, it’s a wash. We give ‘em one warning and nuke the place clean, and that will be that. Same goes for Afghanistan. Such a loss would really be very minor for us if we weren’t there to be the losers.
As for the Islamists, a victory there would be minor for them as well, compared to the victories they are winning every day in Europe (and to some degree Canada and the US). They’re going to get a whole continent, thanks in no small part to us allowing the Europeans to become weak and flaccid in their dependency.
We won. Now let’s bring the boys home and win the war against Mexico where our vital interests really lie.