We’re there for China’s oil
We sacrificed our troops and our treasure to overthrow Saddam and lift Iraq from sanctions and try to stabilize the region
China moved in and took over the business
That is what Trump knows
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/world/middleeast/china-reaps-biggest-benefits-of-iraq-oil-boom.html
Yeah, the markets don’t always allow us to get other nation’s oil, in this case, Iraq’s. Not fair, I suppose. We kept our word.
In the 18th Century, the British navy kept the sea lanes open and fought back against international slave trade and pirates. Many people besides the Brits benefited. You cannot always do the right thing and be the sole beneficiary. It’s simply not possible.