I honestly don't buy the "resources" argument even for Iraq (and I was fully onboard that we were there for the oil). As far as I recall, the oil contracts in Iraq went to foreign (non-American) companies. The "rare earth" minerals in AFG makes no sense given our reluctance to alternative energy in the last 20 yrs. I don't think we went to war to "secure" metals 20 yrs later. It really is much simpler and much more sophisticated at the same time. One, military industrial complex. A select few are just willing to kill countless to gain wealth or power, you're currently seeing it in GQP states that refuse to curve COVID. Enter Cheney, Rumsfeld, defense lobbies. Two, continuous GOP demonization and creation of perpetual enemies. If they can point to "terrorists" to win elections, they've given all the power they need to corporate America, free to loot the treasury via tax cuts/bail outs w/o having to dig for dirt halfway around the world. The potential resource exploitation is a hand me down that I personally haven't seen us exploit much these last two wars. Though do wonder if big pharma is plugged into the Afghan Opioid pipeline.
Yes, you're right, and I've mentioned those motives in other posts. A market for arms is huge. Distraction and division are favorite tactics, too. And I've considered whether we invade countries sometimes just to keep our troops experienced.
It really is hard to justify an ever expanding military budget if you don't have enemies to use the military against. And it really is hard to keep publicly traded defense companies growing without that ever expanding budget to make it so.
Everyone in upper management, (private, civilian, and military) knows that if you don't use your budget, it'll be cut.
A few men with carpet knives did 9/11, a few men with AK47's won against the f..king US military. It's hilarious. Trillions upon trillions for "defense" yet a few knives and rifles won twice.
It's worth remembering the jobs-creation-program aspect. European developed nations had the same problem as US politicians after WWII, they wanted to bring down their jobless numbers on paper in their districts. Europe started paid vocational training centres where while in training for plumber, welder, fitter etc. young men were off the unemployment register. The US leveraged the military for the same purpose. Its corporate socialism at the top but also socialism at the bottom.