The occupation and nation building is BS. SF trains in real guerilla warfare/UW, although sadly not as much as we did up through the late 60’s. The entire SF Officers Course in 67 was 75% UW. Being able to train locals, hire them, pay them and lead them into battle saves conventional troops lives. It also avoids a lot of trouble these damn woman in our military are causing in parts of the world. Now all the guys want is DA which any Ranger unit or even any infantry unit can do. The idea in war is to make the other guy die for his country. Bush jumps on Hussein who was the only one keeping Iran from crossing into Iraq. F up 1. Next, Obama and Clinton decide to get rid of Ghadaffi. F up 2. More and more BS as the country of Libya was full of radical Muslims like everywhere in that part of the world. Obama has gotten more killed and wounded with indecision. He has lost Iraq and we are in deep kimchi in Afghan.
I generally agree with you but having spent a little time over there my feeling is Iraq should be three countries. The Kurds want nothing to do with outsiders and the Sunni and Shiite tribes just will not coexist. By the way, another lesson in why diversity is not a strength.