Both the initial assaults on Afghanistan and Iraq were successful, although obviously of dubious international legality, especially the blatantly illegal invasion of Iraq. But from a purely military standpoint, and forgetting the ethics, they were successful.

Where they went bad was in follow through, and that was a result of policy decisions, not the performance of rank and file. No rank and file could have overcome the idiotic policy decisions of the people who decided to try to turn both countries into Little Americas, with a Starbucks on every corner and with no regard at all for cultural and ethnic sensitivities.

The same can be said about the training of the Afghan army. If you try to create a modern army in any country, you better be damn sure that your government isn't headed by someone like Ashraf Ghani, who commanded the loyalty of maybe his immediate family, and no one else. No modern army was going to put their lives on the line for the likes of that kind of guy. It wasn't training that did in the Afghan army. I'm sure if they had been WILLING to fight, they would have done just fine.

So let's be careful how we define delusional. And facts. K?