Western governments never learn, or maybe there is an ulterior motive to these kinds of ‘wars’
You cannot wipe out groups like the Taliban, they just play the waiting game, much like the situation in Vietnam, they know western military deployments are not sustainable any more.
My general view is the west need these type of wars to loosen off some ammo and keep the defence industry pumping, however unfortunately there is always the inevitable human, animal and environmental cost, but when has any government really given a shit?