It would help a lot if t were shorter, wouldn't it?

But as I wrote before, the US would expose more and more cards and demonstrate its fragility in spite of its force.

The US is for the moment waging a Cold War era type of war.
The threat is different, it's a network of terrorists that uses very little technology (you don't need sponsor-states to get cutters) and a strong willingness to die.

As I just wrote, the US has no idea what the conseqences would be of a war involving the military.

Besides, the US should pay far more attention to weaknesses inside the US than waging war on the other side of the world.
Are chemical plants well protected, for instance?

Raoul