Why is it so hard for the U.S. to win wars?
U.S. presidents have promised short, decisive wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. All have proved much more difficult than advertised and fallen far short of the political goals set at the beginning.
U.S. presidents have promised short, decisive wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. All have proved much more difficult than advertised and fallen far short of the political goals set at the beginning.
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What happened: U.S. presidents have promised short, decisive wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. All have proved much more difficult than advertised and fallen far short of the political goals set at the beginning.
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Source attribution: NPR News via npr.org. Original report: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/18/g-s1-134037/why-is-it-so-hard-for-the-u-s-to-win-wars
