Many of us have already come to the conclusion that Iraq was a gross mistake. At least we have learned that that model does not work. Pity it cost $1 trillion, 4000 lives, and 10,000 limbs to learn it.
I think McCarthy has expressed the model well. We strike, we foment uprising against the regime in question, we make it starkly obvious to Muslim leaders that they personally will die, and we reduce our profile as targets.
We must address the argument that we cannot conduct suppression of terrorism from the air with drones. We need human intelligence, national technical means, bribery, negotiation, deception, and ruthless determination to kill. When necessary we might need special forces temporarily on the ground. But we do not need nation building. We might need to cause mountains of collateral damage but we do not need to offer ourselves up as targets.
That is not to say that Iran can be permitted to acquire the bomb, it must be stopped at all costs. That does not imply that we have to occupy Iran.
