Do you think sending troops to Iraq was a mistake when Afghanistan was not pacified?

THE JOB IN AFGHANISTAN COULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED ALONG TIME AGO. THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH OUR MILITARY, IT IS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDE ON THE PLAN TO TAKE. OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS SURROUNDED IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN DURING THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE CONFLICT. THE DECISION THAT PROVED TO BE A CRITICAL MISTAKE WAS NOT USING THE PEOPLE THAT WE TRAINED AND SENT TO DO THE JOB. TOO FEW TROOPS WERE PUT ON THE GROUND AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELIED ON THE COVER A POSSIBLE ESCAPE ROUTE. BECAUSE OF THIS THE SLIPPED THROUGH OUR FINGERS. THE SAME GOES FOR IRAQ. IF THE GOVERNMENT SENDS SOLDIERS TO FIGHT IN ANOTHER COUNTRY REMEMBER THAT THEY WERE TRAINED TO FIGHT NOT TO POLICE. OF THESE TWO CONFLICTS VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WAS GAINED. IF THE US ENTERED A WAR ANYTIME SOON MOST OF THE COMBAT SOLDIERS AND MARINES WILL HAVE COMBAT EXPERIENCE. THE US HAS MADE MANY ADVANCEMENTS AND HAS IMPROVED ITS ARSENAL AND INVENTORY. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE MEDICAL FIELD HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY. MANY LESSONS LEARNED FROM MILITARY HOSPITALS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN HAVE MADE IT TO THE TRAUMA UNITS IN THE STATES. WELL HOPEFULLY IF ANYTHING SHALL ARISE AND THERE IS A NEED TO PUSUE ANOTHER CONFLICT THE SAME MISTAKES WILL NOT BE MADE. BUT I DOUBT THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND FIGHTING JUST DO WHAT THEY ARE ASKED TO DO WHILE THE PEOPLE MAKING THE RULES AND PLANNING THE COURSE OF ACTION ARE AT THIS VERY MOMENT SNORTING COCAINE AT A PARTY. BUT WE HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT OURSELVES. WELL MAYBE NOT BECAUSE THAT RECOUNT WAS KINDA FISHY.....