In 2019, the United States withdrew from the Syrian War, took out ISIS leader Baghdadi, and by January 3, 2020 the most dangerous shadow terrorist leader, Iran's Qassem Soleimani had been neutralized in Baghdad.
News narratives were quick to paint both Baghdadi and Soleimani as respected leaders while simultaneously decrying the Kurds in Syria.
But what is the real story behind these ground-shifting Middle East events? Could they have been some of the best Middle East policy decisions we have.