[samtheman]

In order to contain Iran we had to take down Iraq.

I don't follow you there. It seems to me the destruction of the Baath Party in Iraq was a boon to Iran.

[lepton]

I don’t follow you there. It seems to me the destruction of the Baath Party in Iraq was a boon to Iran.

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Remember “don’t attack Iran! Promise you wont attack iran”?

And then Iran was allowed to fight a proxy-war in Iraq; and when Iran became destabilized, the next administration did nothing useful and even that was killed.

[Paul R.]

Check the regional map: I’m pretty certain the idea was for us to have substantial forces, or at least friendly bases to operate from, in both Afghanistan and Iraq.