Wars always seem messy and complex up close. History tends to rationalize, or justify events into a digestible format. Imagine what post world war periods were like. All seems neat and tidy now. I don’t think there was anything to win in Afghanistan or Iraq in a war sense. There were stated objectives which seem to have been partially fulfilled, but the underlying causes have been ratcheted up if anything. Whatever you think about US foreign policy, I believe they are the world policeman of choice at the moment.