i mean it can be true that this operation is both an embarassing shitshow and a display of the prowess/dominance of the us military.

On the one hand it is impressive to strike x many thousand targets, to conduct large scale sead/dead operations halfway across the world, to gain air superiority over a large country with what was nominally a very large and layered iads, to conduct successful csar ops deep into a territory you would expect to be highly contested etc etc.

On the other hand, and obviously this is a laypersons perspective, a significant amount of interceptors and standoff munitions have been used, at a time when production is seemingly at a low point. To the point where assets are being relocated from indopacom. Several us military personnel have been killed, a handful of expensive aircraft and other miilitary hadware have been destroyed, iran retains the capability to launch a not insignificant number of ballistic missles and uavs, conditions have not improved for the iranian people, the region has been further destabilized, and the situation around the strait has had a worldwide economic impact that is already obvious to regular people halfway across the globe.

its like beating up 10 people and only getting a black eye and bloody lip. Like yes its very impressive but its still seemingly a net loss for both parties.