I regard two similar articles by experts on the US Empire's wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan as important. I am referring "Iran and Hezbollah are ready to face any challenge: but are Israel and the US ready?" by Elijah J. Magnier, an independent Kuwaiti journalist (if my memory serves me correctly) and widely quoted source of information by other experts, and "Blowback From U.S. Policy in the Greater Middle East" (you may want to skip Tom Engelhardt's introduction by scrolling down to the article) by Major Danny Sjursen of West Point.
Both ridicule the declining influence of the US Empire and its "partners in crime" due to blowback of its imperialist policies and actions to control this region over the past nearly four decades.
Elijah Magnier:
With every war or tough western policy to defeat this “axis” using Saudi Arabian money and western intelligence services in the Levant and Iraq, this “axis” becomes stronger and increases the number of its supporters. Can the western warmongers finally learn that such a policy is, in fact, drastically weakening the West in the Middle East? I doubt it.Major Danny Sjursen:
Short-term thinking, expedience, and a lack of strategic caution (or direction) has led Washington to train, fund, and support group after group that, soon enough, turned its guns on American soldiers and civilians. It’s a long, sordid tale that stretches back decades -- and one that, unlike the individual instances of treachery that kill or maim American servicemen, receives next to no attention.