Funny how times change. The Powell Doctrine as presented in 1992 shows we can unlearn how to do things. I've listed its tenets below:

1. Is a vital national security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other non-violent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of our action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?

I can only poorly imagine the hell that Powell has been living....