The Nation Building in Iraq and Afghanistan was clearly a mistake. It was clearly in the best interests of the world, especially in the interest of stifling communism in WWII
The victory in WWII was clear and unambiguous
The premise that Iraq/Afghanistan simply needed “stuff” to become a democracy was the error.
Not letting them wallow in their defeat, and not treating them like the enemy they are was also a mistake.
the passage I quoted about Victory was our president commenting about just what sort of victory we would get in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was right about one thing. we did not achieve a victory as we did in WWII.
Unfortunately if victory is not as recognizable as it was in WWII, it’s probably not a victory.
Victory was recognizable in WWII, certainly. But I think the whole big bloody mess that is modern warfare ought to realize victory isn’t everything. That was the big mistake in the climax of stupidity that was WWI, but also to a lesser degree in the supposedly “good war.”