Gulf News

FOREVER WARS WHY US FAILED IN VIETNAM, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTA­N

Here’s a look at the reasons for, and aftermath of military campaigns that cost America dearly in lives and resources

- DUBAI BY ALEX ABRAHAM, Senior Associate Editor; JAY HILOTIN, Senior Assistant Editor; SHYAM A. KRISHNA, Senior Associate Editor

Military campaigns in foreign lands, except for the 1991 Gulf war, have cost America dearly in terms of money, manpower and credibilit­y

The circumstan­ces surroundin­g US withdrawal­s from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanista­n vary considerab­ly. Given the unsatisfyi­ng conclusion­s, spilling all the blood and treasure in US military involvemen­ts in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanista­n has been the subject of closer scrutiny.

Has America ever won a war? Since 1945, when the US and its allies vanquished Axis powers at the end of World War II, America has very rarely achieved meaningful victory in an armed conflict. The US has fought five major wars — Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanista­n. Only the Gulf War in 1991 can really be labelled as a clear triumph.

The circumstan­ces surroundin­g US withdrawal­s from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanista­n vary considerab­ly, as do the timetables for each. Given the unsatisfyi­ng conclusion­s, spilling all the blood and treasure in US military involvemen­ts in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanista­n has been the subject of closer scrutiny.

Here’s an overview of three of the most recent, and costliest wars the US was involved in.

 ??  ?? IRAQ (2002-21)
AFGHANISTA­N (2001-21)
IRAQ (2002-21) AFGHANISTA­N (2001-21)
 ??  ?? VIETNAM (1964-73)
VIETNAM (1964-73)
 ??  ??

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