Iraq vs. Afghanistan

One of the reasons cited as evidence that Iraq is a failure is that we are creating more fanatical Muslims by being an occupier. That is probably true. It is certainly true in Central Asia where Islamicist parties in Pakistan gained popularity after the US invaded Afghanistan. But does that fact make the war illegitimate? If it did, it would make both the Iraq and Afghanistan campaign equally problematic.

Call me arrogant, but I could give a shit what these fanatics think about us or how they finally jumped on the fanatic fence after we decided to invade a "fellow" Muslim country. Like there is anything we can do other than submit to their religion that would make them happy.

Likewise, dealing with the insurgency in Iraq is still an ongoing problem, as is a similar fight in Afghanistan with the resurgent Taliban. How do anti-war folks justify pulling out of Iraq vs. pulling out of Afghanistan? Is it ultimately a cost thing? Or does it have to do with the original legitimacy of the invasion? Or does it have to do with post-invasion choices?

It seems stupid of me not to brought these questions up sooner.