<p>Nope. Despite killing half a million children, he failed, and, despite creating two million refugees out of the most secular, most pro-Western elements in Iraqi society, Bush failed. The winners are the Iranians, and that is what is so galling to bipartisan foreign policy folks.</p>
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<p>I’m not so sure the Iranians are winners from a protracted civil war in Iraq. If so, they would be one of the few countries in history that “wins” from a major civil war on its border. Historically, major civil wars tend to be destabilizing for neighboring countries.</p>
<p>Iran stands to be just as “bogged down” in Iraq as we are. The Sunni factions, at this point, are very well funded by their “proxies” througout the region. There is no expectation that they will go quietly into the night any time soon, with or without US presence.</p>