It's hard to know where to start.
First, as a former infantryman in VN, you must be aware there are different reasons people fight. The motivation of the Vietnamese was the unification of their country, driving the foreign devils out. They had been doing that for a 1,000 years. They wanted it.

The motivation of the Americans was to get out of there alive and to protect your buddy. To get your 13 months over.

The motivation of the Afghans against the Russians was the same. As well as against the Americans. They want it.

The US is fighting a war we cannot win. As soon as we stop bombing they come back, with even more strength, as the bombing creates more enemies than it can possibly kill. And they are fighting for their religious beliefs, for their way of life, and for their lands, their ground. And as soon as the last plane flies away, they own it again.

The US is not fighting - it is simply expending ordnance, dropping huge bombs which have a huge kill radius - every man, woman, child, goat, dog and cat. Called "terrorism". No chance to win, any more if they were bombing your city or mine. Simply creates more hatred. All to protect BP, Exxon, etc.

It's an ego-gratifying thing to do, appeals to adolescents, to people who don't understand. And it's impossible to explain to those who haven't grown past the "beat 'em up" stage. Impossible. And still even those can look at what works and what doesn't.

That's all I have time and energy for. I probably won't go into the other matters, I don't think it would be understood anyway. And you don't have to be a sucker anymore. What's the goal, what works and who gains?