[boomboomsubban]

>You'd have more traction arguing that sanctions are, in fact, not in America's long term best interests

The problem with that angle is that without caring about morals, military invasion is probably better for America's interests than sanction relief.

[Veen]

One would hope they'd learned from Iraq and Afghanistan why military invasions aren't the strategically optimal way to deal with these problems. Although that may be a forlorn hope.

[boomboomsubban]

As much of a clusterfuck both of those wars were, I don't think they can be shown to have been clearly bad for the US long term interests. It's a hard thing to calculate, and the war hawks would be more than willing to only show the data saying more war is a good strategic idea.

[havetocharge]

You need the moral fluff to convince humans to risk their lives in participating in the invasion.

[boomboomsubban]

There's more than enough willing mercenaries, at most the moral fluff just drives the price down.