I heard someone say a little while ago in an interview that all the stupid useless wars that the US engages in, eg. Afghanistan, are designed to give their army battlefield experience,(as well as enriching their military suppliers). So they don't really care that they lost in Afghanistan as it was all really a live fire training exercise. This is something the Chinese, for one, don't have. The Russians got a bit of experience in Syria but that's about it for them. All war is about deception so I wonder what is the reality behind the appearance of all players.
