The Victor Davis Hanson Show Sheinbaum Gets it All Wrong and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq in Retrospect
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Aug 16, 2025 Delve into the implications of the 2003 Iraq invasion and how misjudged political decisions still echo today. Explore recent remarks by Mexico’s president on immigration and the fentanyl crisis, highlighting their socio-economic impact. The discussion also critiques U.S. immigration policies and their narratives, while reflecting on the aftermath of the Iraq War and the challenges of nation-building in conflict zones. Finally, uncover the complexities of urban crime, especially among young African American males, and the cultural narratives that complicate honest conversations.
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Postwar Planning Failure Fueled Insurgency
- Hanson says the U.S. lacked a credible reconstruction plan and failed to retain necessary officials or troop levels for stabilization.
- He links subsequent insurgency, Iranian influence, and sectarian power struggles to that planning gap.
Surge and Reconstruction Showed Results
- Hanson recalls embeds during the 2006–2007 surge and observed concrete improvements from counterinsurgency efforts and local reconstruction.
- He credits the surge and leaders like Petraeus with reducing violence by mid-2008.
Withdrawal Opened Space For ISIS
- Hanson argues Obama's withdrawal undermined hard-won security gains and created the conditions for ISIS's rise.
- He says the post-withdrawal vacuum allowed ISIS to expand and seize territory in Iraq and Syria.
