This is the answer. The IDF might have sent a brigade or two for a rotation in Iraq… But the middle east would have exploded even harder.
The US needs to keep the peace with the Saudis, Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as shore up relations with other Muslim countries like Pakistan and Indonesia (fun fact: Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country).
And then there is the hearts and minds effort with the locals. You can at least pretend to not be an Israeli puppet to the Iraqis, and maybe they’ll believe you, but that’s hard to sell if the actual Golani Brigade is driving through Tikrit.
It was also not encouraged by the US. In the Gulf Wars we had several Arab countries as allies that would not fight with Israeli even on paper.
This is the answer. The IDF might have sent a brigade or two for a rotation in Iraq… But the middle east would have exploded even harder.
The US needs to keep the peace with the Saudis, Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as shore up relations with other Muslim countries like Pakistan and Indonesia (fun fact: Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country).
And then there is the hearts and minds effort with the locals. You can at least pretend to not be an Israeli puppet to the Iraqis, and maybe they’ll believe you, but that’s hard to sell if the actual Golani Brigade is driving through Tikrit.
Gee I wonder why …