"Vietnam and Iraq tie for third biggest mistake in ..." Topic

…American history

"This August will mark 100 years since World War One began in 1914, the year when Europe nearly destroyed itself and in the process dragged the United States into its first major overseas war. British historian Niall Ferguson recently said that Britain's decision to enter the First World War was the "biggest error in modern history".

YouGov decided to ask Americans: What event or decision was the biggest mistake in American history? 1,000 American adults submitted what they think was the greatest blunder in our history, and from that a shortlist of the eleven most common suggestions, excluding elections, was compiled…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I'm not prepared to say that at this time … but as I and others frequently say Hindsight is 20/20.

How the Iraq war was conducted was mistake not the war itself. I still believe we went to war to use Iraq as a spring board into Iran which is still the biggest threat in the region. If the war had been successful then Iran would have been surrounded by US troops in Afghanistan, Persian gulf and Iraq.

Once the Iraq War (2003 not 1991) degenerated into an insurgency it was lost. Surrounding Iran would require the ideal condition in which all the myriad factions in Iraq get along and play nice, which was never remotely possible in the first place.

To conduct the war in the way you're suggesting requires an utterly ruthless and heavy-handed approach that would be anathema to a nation (and leader of the free world) built upon the ideals of democracy and human decency. In sooth, it would mean trading away one's soul and becoming a monster.

When I read "YouGov decided to ask Americans" I knew there was no point in clicking on the link.

If you want to win a war by winning their hearts and minds the only real way to do it is to rip their heart out and blow their mind. Otherwise, you are wasting your time.

Wolfhag

Winning the war was the easy part, it was the lack of an exit strategy that was the blunder…

If you want to win a war by winning their hearts and minds the only real way to do it is to rip their heart out and blow their mind. Otherwise, you are wasting your time.

Works for me !

Wow, that IS quite a list, and very interesting that the Civil War is so low down on the list, while the one just above beating it is just silly, especially given how much those complaining about it spent this year, and 4 year ago.

Talk about total hypocrisy.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Thresher01,
Propaganda and the opinions of professors are what is mostly taught in US schools at all levels except for some advanced or specialized courses or institutions. Students are mostly taught what to believe and not look at the source material and evaluate for themselves. There are a few exceptions.

Wolfhag

+1 Wolf !!!!