> But it is, the US is no position to flatten anything.

The US is certainly in a position to flatten (with conventional force) anything in the Carribean, whatever failures it had in long counterinsurgencies where the logistics tail wrapped nearly halfway around the world. (And however badly it would probably fail in occupation in many of the places it could easily flatten close by, for that matter; flattening is much easier than occupying.)

> Afghanistan? Lost Vietnam? Lost Ukraine? Lost Iran?

Lost Ukraine? Ukraine hasn't lost and the US was never a direct belligerent in that conflict.

60+ planes !? Not disputing, just interested to learn more.

It seems Iran offered little to no defense against bombing raids. This may have changed recently.