>>On the other hand, I spent a lot of time with draftees during the Korean war.
>>Those guys counted the days till their tours ended and they could get back home.
>>They even had an acronym for it:
>>FIGMO
>>Farewell, I got my orders!
>
>Bill, if you'll forgive this rather frivolous question: what is your point here?

On this axis my point would be that the pendulum swung to far from the opposition against sending troops after Vietnam (fueled by TV/press, returnees and draft dodgers) to the ease of 2nd Iraqi war or extending the mandate and scope in Afghanistan under Obama.

1st Iraq war even after reestablishing Kuwait border "felt right" (although midway stop surprised me as well), Balkan involvement "probably right", Afghan action directly after 9/11 "felt right, but contrieved", 2nd Iraq war I was glad Schröder stayed out of it as I was certain the reasons were fake, Arab spring was too chaotic / mixed for me to build a clear opinion - current best guess for places like Syria is that trying to keep a single country when such diverse population wishes exist is not best way.

But not enough knowledge on Turkish and other neighbour states loathing for and determination to inhibit "smaller states" from creating more pressure to separate / join in their population like Kurds would have.

upd:
And yes, I am aware that furthering fragmentation has also definite imperialistic roots. /upd

my 0.002 whatever
thomas