"The Americans, in turn, seem never to learn anything. They move from war to war, always in places they can't win against foes that have all the time in the world. " Because we can. The first George got a bunch right. Define victory before going in. Do not "build nations" that have no fundamental ability to comply.....that includes almost every nation. The waste of our best peoples lives is criminal and negates the valor and sacrifice of so many.