Issue 76

The Afghanistan and Iraq Wars made America:

Far stronger, since both helped stop a major terrorist attack after 9/11.

0%

Moderately better off—given Iraq stabilized and Afghanistan could have been stabilized as a valuable US base.

40%

Perhaps at first stronger, but nation-building was not worth the terrible cost in American blood and treasure.

20%

Likely weaker, given both interventions caused death and destruction in these countries and unsettled the Middle East.

20%

Far weaker: the cost was too high; we took our eye off real threats like China and Russia; the region is worse off.

20%