Al queda has never been much of a problem for the US and of great benefit as the boogie man. Nothing strikes fear into ma and pa bumpkin like the thought of Al Queda coming to chop off their head. Iraq was all about eliminating a threat to friendlies in the ME. It and Afghanistan have allowed us operational advantages against Iran and other bad actors who could disrupt the status quo and flow of oil and the economies of the world. SA and others figured out to stop the Arab spring They paid their people large sums of cash to pacify them.