Whether the failure comes from lack of military capability or failure of political will makes no difference…

In my opinion it does make a difference when the discussion started with the article in question. The U.S. military definitely can obliterate any organized state power (possible exception is China) in the world today.

I should note that I was not attempting to give an exhaustive list of “wars” the U.S. has fought since 1945.

I don’t see how Operation Just Cause does not qualify for a war. A country was invaded and its government replaced. That’s a war. I’m from the Canal Zone and at least one former PDF member I spoke with considered it a war.