Has the United States lost every Conflict its engaged in since World War 2?

The US has won (as a member of numerous alliances and coalitions) nearly every war it has participated in since World War 2.

The confusion is based on an ignorance of what the stated objectives of these conflicts were. The US achieved its objectives in nearly every instance.

Of course, winning the war is not the same as winning the peace and there are typically far more complicated political consideration in those regards. But since your question is specific to “war” and focuses on “military superiority” then that is outside the scope of discussion. Militarily, the US (and its allies) have won every war.

Korea War

• US Objective: Per the Security Resolution (United Nations Security Council Resolution 83) which initiated UN and US participation in the conflict, the goal was:

“Members of the United Nations furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area.”

• North Korean Objective: Kim Il Sung: Comrade Stalin, we believe that the situation makes it necessary and possible to liberate the whole country through military means. The reactionary forces of the South will never agree on a peaceful unification and will perpetuate the division of the country until they feel themselves strong enough to attack the North. (“Should We Fear This?” Stalin and the Danger of WarwithAmerica, page 4)
• Result: South Korea remains a sovereign nation. North Korea did not “liberate” the whole country. US achieved objective, North Korea did not. US and its allies won.

Vietnam War

• US Objective: The Tonkin Gulf Resolution stated that “Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repeal any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent any further aggression.” (Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)). (1) The United States of America is joined with the people and Government of Vietnam to prevent aggression. This is the purpose of the determined effort of the American armed forces now engaged in Vietnam. (The Declaration of Honolulu.)
• North Vietnamese Objective: The goals of the North Vietnamese in South Vietnam are summarized in Ho Chi Minh’s three-point battle cry: “Defend the North, Free the South, and Unite the Country.” (Analysis of North Vietnamese Goals and Failures)
• Result: North Vietnam, South Vietnam and the United States signed the Paris Peace Accords on 27 January 1973 which recognized South Vietnam’s government as legitimate, agreed to allow the South Vietnamese people to decide their own fate, and sought a peaceful resolution for the potential of re-unification. The US achieved its objective. North Vietnam did not achieve its objective. (In violation of this peace agreement, the North Vietnamese initiated a new war against South Vietnam, to which the US was not party, and forcibly seized Saigon. This was a separate war from the one which the three nations signed a peace treaty to end.) The US and its allies won.

Desert Storm

• US Objective: directed by UN Resolution 678 to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

In an address to the Congress on August 5, 1990, 3 days after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, President George Bush stated that the U.S. national policy objectives in the Persian Gulf were to:

• effect the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait;
• restore Kuwait’s legitimate government;
• ensure the security and stability of Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf nations; and
• ensure the safety of American citizens abroad. (OPERATION DESERT STORMOBJECTIVES)
• Iraqi Objective: Saddam Hussein, ordered the invasion and occupation of Kuwaitwith the apparent aim of acquiring that nation’s large oil reserves, canceling a large debt Iraq owed Kuwait, and expanding Iraqi power in the region. (Persian Gulf War | 1990–1991)
• Results: Iraq was expelled from Kuwait. The government of Kuwait was restored. The US and its allies achieved their objectives. Iraq did not. The US and its allies won.

Afghanistan

• US Objectives: From President Bush’s Address to the Nation, 20 September 2001 (News from the Washington File), he outlined the following regarding Afghanistan, specifically addressing the Taliban leadership:
• Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of al-Qaida who hide in your land.
• Release all foreign nationals — including American citizens — you have unjustly imprisoned, and protect foreign journalists, diplomats, and aid workers in your country.
• Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan and hand over every terrorist, and every person in their support structure, to appropriate authorities.
• Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating.
• The wider objectives are:
• a. to do everything possible to eliminate the threat posed by international terrorism;
• b. to deter states from supporting, harbouring or acting complicitly with international terrorist groups;
• c. reintegration of Afghanistan as a responsible member of the international community and an end to its self-imposed isolation.
• AQ/Taliban Objectives: In his letter to America (Full text: bin Laden’s ‘letter to America’) bin Laden explained that he wanted the following from the United States:
  
  1) Become Muslims
  2) Enact Sharia Law and rid yourselves of democracy and manmade laws
  3) Admit your a bunch of liars
  4) Stop supporting Israel, Russia, India, and the Philippines in their warsagainst Muslims
  5) Leave Saudi Arabia
  6) Stop supporting the corrupt governments in the Middle East
  7) Treat us as equals and stop supporting Israel
• Results: The US achieved its objectives. Bin Ladin/AQ/Taliban did not. The US and its allies won. (For a more detailed look: Brian K. Price’sanswer to Why has American foreign policy repeatedly missed its declared goals?)

Iraq (2003)

• US Objectives: From the Air Force Historical Support Division (Operation Iraqi Freedom):

The primary political goal of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM was to create “a stable Iraq, with its territorial integrity intact and a broad based government that renounces WMD development and use, and no longer supports terrorism or threatens its neighbors.”

• Iraqi Objectives: To remain in power and to keep Iran in check by giving them the impression they still retained WMD. (FBI interviews detail Saddam Hussein’s fear of Iran, WMD bluff, Saddam Hussein ‘lied about WMDs to protect Iraq from Iran’)
• Results: This is the closest to a loss the US gets. The US did overthrow Saddam Hussein. It did confirm there were no WMD left in Iraq. It ended the government’s support of terrorists. And it established a democracy in Iraq. Unfortunately, since the US departure in 2011, the Iraqi government has become more Shi’a focused with less outreach to the Sunni government, has used illegal methods to intimidate the Sunni representatives and their populations, and enabled the rise of ISIL based on their treatment of the Sunni population. The objectives were achieved but they were unsustainable. You can call that one a loss if you want.

Libya

• US Objectives: As part of NATO and under the direction of the United Nations: To secure “an immediate ceasefire” and authorizing the international community to establish a no-fly zone and to use all means necessary short of foreign occupation to protect civilians.
• Libyan Objectives: To remain in power and to crush the forces seeking his ouster.
• Results: The NATO/UN objectives were accomplished. Qaddafi was ousted from power (and subsequently killed). NATO/UN won the war. (Not so much the peace but that wasn’t part of the UN mandate…in fact, it was expressly prohibited.)

Not sure how else you can *objectively* measure success than to look at the stated objectives of each side and identify who achieved their objectives and who did not.

Anything else is either willfully ignorant or a straw man.

Re-printed with permission by original author BK Price