Steve, your considerations are perfectly reasonable but, why engage in two hugely costly wars, occupy two states for many years, and then relinquish them back to ISIS and to the Talebans, making situation for the people worse than before? That makes no sense. Something went terribly wrong.
The problem seems to me of getting involved in the first place. I think we should have learned from Viet Nam that these people have very different barbaric values. This is the latest….
https://apple.news/AekVs_OVxQ9mtqELn2Y7oAwWe attempt to get involved with others that we have no understanding about. But these are the consequences of exploiting other cultures for resources and cheap labor for inexpensive products. That’s my take on it. That’s the price for greed, gluttony and exorbitant life styles of ‘civilized’ societies. When we live more simpler ourselves I believe we will have a lot less headaches from other cultures. I’m attempting to live more simply. I don’t need so much ‘stuff’ and endless comforts and excitements to make life meaningful. It starts with us and being the best example we can.