[x]

Germany, sure.

The Philippines, fine.

Korea, even.

Iraq -- not such a good idea to begin with.

Bush's advice in 2007 may have been sound.

2003? Not so much.

[ansel12]

Did he expect us to stay there forever?

Well we pulled out, and what we got was different from all the places where we maintained a presence, including the ones on your list that you approve of.

[mrsmith]

2014 isn’t 2007 or 2003 either.
The author overreaches.

For example If we don’t have the intel sources now to tell if Iraq has WMDs we never will.
Likewise we have a large number of “tribal” intel sources both in Iraq and the Afghan so a “9/11” surprise attack frpm those areas is preventable.
And we have influence in events.

Intel was the purpose of those wars. We went overboard on the nation building... but then congress always demands such contribution-opportunities..