The conquest and withdrawal from Iraq was a gift to Iran, something they never could accomplish during the Iran-Iraq War: do away with Sunni control and bring Iraq into the Iranian orbit.
Absolutely. This is the consequence of our blundering in and meddling in a part of the world where our only interest in in securing cheap sources of fuel - not acting as referee for people who hate us just as much as they hate one another. Our policy should be one of economic self-interest in the area, pure and simple. Not some idealistic crusade or a futile attempt for false ‘stability’ at all costs. We can buy cheap oil from despots just as well as democrats, we’ve proven that in Saudi Arabia.
If Bush didn’t freeze up, the same imperative by which we took out Sadaam should have been followed by toppling Assad in Syria and at least reducing Iran to a non threat.
We had an enormous army there to do it. Then we put our tanks in garages and let Iran and Syria bleed the situation.
But then, only time will tell.