Well, to date are about 160,000 official U.S. troops in Iraq afaik.
About the same quantity up to twice as much is occupied with preparing for redeployment to Iraq and not training much for conventional warfare.

So most of the army can be deployed into an unnecessary conflict. Meanwhile, the world does not fall apart. China did not invade Taiwan, Russia not Eastern European nations and North Korea did not attack South Korea.
Most important: No nation invaded the USA (just immigrants that slip by the still tiny border patrol).

Imagine the Iraq was not invaded in 2003 ... all those troops occupied by the Iraq confllict would have been unnecessary int hat scenario.

Well, I consider this situation as proof that the U.S. Army/USMC are rather too large and have too much funds.


Sorry for deviation from the topic, someone regretting lack of boots on the ground triggered this reflex of mine...