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"The west" in that headline is a very general synecdoche. The article makes it clearer: "US and British leaders", surrounded by much text.

IMO that by diffusing the blame onto a wishy washy "the west", the article helps avoid any learning.

IMO also: Learning does happen elsewhere. I am familiar with the internal politics of two other countries. The US will find it more difficult to persuade both of those to join its next sally, whenever and wherever that will be.

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"The west" is not really wishy washy in this context. Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg and a lot more have a huge responsibility, and we all have a lesson to learn from the fall of Kabul and from the whole situation in Afghanistan. Because it impacts us. It impacts us directly.

Can't say about France, Belgium, Italy, Greece or Luxembourg, but this has had political effect in Germany. A learning effect, and you notice the phrase "will learn no lessons" in the headline.

Germany was borderline already. I don't know how closely you've paid attention, but the Iraq war was a significant factor in a German election, and it was close then. My guess is that after this, the American are going to have to show at least one significant success before the German voters will back anything that resembles an offensive war with the Americans involved.

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