The War in Iraq and on Terrorism, is it Beneficial or Wasteful?

As the Democrats take the House, the nation prepares for a push to remove American soldiers from deployed locations in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, such as Iraq. Why does a great majority of the nation want the soldiers home? Is it because so many young and old, men and women alike, are dying? On the other hand, is it because of the national debt and the fact that the war is costing over 1 billion dollars a week?

The War on Iraq actively began after the attacks on 9/11. After experiencing such drastic acts of violence, most Americans were ready for war; a war was anticipated, expected, and in the eyes of most, justified: the American mentality, "hit me and I'll hit you back... harder." However, how is it that America went looking for Osama Bin Laden, but came home with Suddam Hussein?

While I was on active duty in the US Armed Forces, I spent 4 months at a deployed location in the UAE serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I was very well compensated during this time and it was tax-free. While at my deployed location, I shopped. I lay by the pool. I enjoyed the beach and the malls. I ate at Chili's, Fridays and other familiar restaurants, often. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and again, I say was very well compensated. I know my time deployed is unusual to some, but 25-30% of the deployed personnel experience it.

Now that I am no longer serving the Armed Forces and am back in the US and I encounter its current state, I wish I had worked harder while deployed. I wish I could have found something to do so that my time there would not seem as a waste. Looking at the big picture, is any of it a waste?

Are our continued actions justified? We have recovered no weapons of mass destruction, nor is Iraq free. Nonetheless, our national debt continues to increase as the cost of living steadily rises. Statistically the unemployment rate has neither increased nor decreased recently, but poverty in America worsens. Will there be "Feed the Children" commercials in Europe featuring dirty, malnutrition American kids holding a little metal cup begging for food. What state will America be in, in the next 5 years?