[bart_spoon]

The did an enormous amount of nation-building. Billions and billions and billions of dollars over multiple decades. It was just a complete and utter failire.

The book “The Afghanistan Papers” covers the US’s misguided efforts there well.

[mschuster91]

Most of that money went to "military contractors" and walled garden boroughs for army outposts and embassies.

The average people, especially outside of Kabul and Bagdad, didn't see much of the trillions of dollars of US taxpayer money.

[keybored]

When second- and third-world countries invade and enrich their military sectors: corrupt government enriching their oligarch class. When the US does it: aww shucks, tried our best but failed to build a democracy again.