This GUARANTEED that Iraq would never be a true ally and NONE of its peoples would ever enjoy what he pined for ("democracy") any liberties, freedoms or rights!
Of ALL of his screwups (and there were MANY) this was his worse.
I predict (in fact some of my Guard friends who served in one theathre or both, are already expressing this sad commentary) much as we Nam Vets did and that is: What did we accomplish and was the sacrifice and expenditure of so much blood and treasure worth it?
I suggest they will say the same as we did: A resounding NO; not because we ever lost ONE SINGLE major military engagement in Nam, but the politicians (both R's and D's) has NO intent on even trying to prevail (i.e. win) which we could have easily accomplished if we had wanted to.
Iraq (and Af-Gan, after we "Bug Out" of it) will end up being 2 more "Islamic Republics" and don't be surprised if some day they end up as our sworn enemy.
Less anyone think we could not have FORCED both countries to forsake Islam, do a little due dilligence as to what we did after defeating Japan and INSISTING they form a new gov't absent ANY connection to Shinto and we should have done the same when we had the opportunity to insist both countries form "Secular" governments.
Someone suffers from BDS and needs help
The Kurds and the Sunnis must be united to stop Iran from taking over in Iraq and alQaeda in Syria
By Ted Belman
With the looming American withdrawal from Iraq, Caroline Glick, in Naming things by their name, summarizes America’s failure in the ME and the reasons for it. First and foremost it refuses to name the enemy but rather made war on a tactic. In its desire not to be identified with dictators because they are hated by the people, America helped to bring down allies of the US, Quaddafi and Mubarek (the enemy of my enemy is my friend) and choose instead to align with her enemies, made easier by having not named them.
http://www.israpundit.com/archives/41634