You’re probably right (although I now think that Iraq was a big debacle- from start to finish). That said, the best piece of evidence to support your comment, that (i.e. going into Iraq....i.e. the Hornet’s nest) is that other than London and Madrid, the U.S. didn’t have any major attacks after 9/11. Still, the main problem was that Bush, like so many of his surrogates (then or now) never really explained it, and still don’t, to the public nor asked Congress for a Declaration of War (as per the Constitution)!! To make matters worst- instead of asking the public at large to fully sacrifice... he told them to go shopping and to pay for the “War” he cut taxes! (I’m 100% for cutting taxes...during PEACE time)That’s why many people lump Bush and Obama as the same in the sense of their total incompetences!!!
Bush and Rumsfeld allowed themselves to be outflanked in the media, rather than staying on the attack all the time.