In Korea we thumped the North, then the Chinese sucker-punched and thumped us, then we thumped them both, back across the 38th parallel... but we lost the peace.
In Vietnam we thumped the North routinely but we lost the peace two years after the peace treaty was signed.
In Iraq we thumped Sadam and Company good-and-proper, then stupidly tried to nation-build, and lost the peace...
In Afghanistan we thumped the Taliban and al-Qaeda good-and-proper, then stupidly tried to nation-build, and lost the peace...
We excel at thumping...
We suck at winning the peace that follows the thumping...
In China, we tried to install a dictator, General Chaing Kai Shek, and the Chinese would not have it.
In Korea, we tried to install a dictator, Syngman Rhee who had been chased out of Korea for bank fraud, and the Koreans would not have it.
In Vietnam, we tried to install a dictator, Diem, and the Vietnamese would not have it.
In Cuba, we tried to install a dictator, Batista, and the Cubans people would not have it.
In Nicaragua, we tried to install a dictator, Samosa, and the Nicaraguans would not have it.
In Iraq, Saddam was our ally that we gave WMD to during their war with Iran. Why we attack Saddam is a total mystery, since Israel was the only one who hated Saddam.
And by taking out Saddam, we gave Iraq to the Iranian backed Shiites.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban were the main part of the Mujahideen that we trained and funded, in order to attack the Soviets. Why we turned on the Taliban is a total mystery as well, since they were always friendly to us. They even offered to extradite Saddam to Saudi Arabia.
"Thumping" is a horrible thing to do with not in immediate defense.