When I was in the navy, near Baghdad (Sept. 2004-March ‘05), I didn’t know it was a failed war. I didn’t hear any of my co-workers (mostly marines and soldiers) say that we were failing.
Some people might think it was a failed war because of the biased media coverage. Whenever an American dies, in Iraq or Afghanistan, a lot of reporters talk about the death. When Americans kill our enemies, in those countries, the same reporters don’t mention our progress. When I was there, I was in a marine infantry battalion. When we arrived in Iraq, we had about 1200 people. 13 of the marines died, and the battalion killed about 200 Iraqis.
It was an ass kicking. Creating a “democracy?” A little different story.