It has, is and will likely always (for the next few centuries? Millennia?) been a quagmire.

How will anyone tell the difference?

The REAL idiocy, is anyone thinking something this long in the making, and so ingrained in the cultures over there, are going to be "solved" in the 4 year term (or two) of a politician from the other side of the planet....

My grandmothers' comment on any intractable overseas conflict - "let them kill each other"...