Originally Posted by
rickair7777
The two examples of attempted full-scale nation-building didn't go well. Most of the rest of it has been fine over the last 30 years, striking a balance between diplomacy, economic engagement, pressure, and low-intensity intervention where sensible.
GCC has cleaned their own house and have relations with IL. Qaddafi swung from a light pole, Assad barely made it to Moscow with his skin intact, the new guy in Syria is objectively better despite his previous CV.
I would hardly call Libya and Syria examples of success. Last I checked, both are maybe just a hair’s width above failed states. And before anyone accuses me of partisanship, I agree that the Obama administration shares much of the blame for recent policy failures in the region. Seems party affiliation is meaningless when it comes to unindented consequences in that part of the world.