[sam_paine]

( I hope my frustrated sarcasm is obvious.)

Yes, that is obvious. But your point is not.

[Vermont Lt]

My point is we should have destroyed AQ (which we did) and then left. Sticking around to try to make an elephant act like a monkey is just stupid.

We are only doing it so we can “harvest” their rare earth elements. How is that plan working out with the Saudis?

We never learn.