How would he have fared against the Arab Spring, even if all had remained locked in place from 10 + years ago? His army, already decrepit from sanctions 10 years ago, would have withstood ISIS or a push from Iran during the past ten years better than the current U.S. reinforced version? It was over and done with by ‘08, all Obama had to do was hold on to the gains.
When (actually, IF) anyone write an honest, objective history book about the U.S. involvement in the Middle East over the last 25 years, they're probably going to acknowledge that the U.S. was on the wrong side in the original Gulf War in 1990.
His army became ISIS.