What do you mean "WMDs of late 2010s"? The WMD excuse I'm familiar with was the one to invade Iraq was early 2000's, and anyone with half a critical mind could see that it was a flimsy argument at best in order to appeal to the hawks at home who wanted blood after September 11th. And American citizens who had studied Islam at all would understand that the only reason the Sunni, Shia, (and Kurds, ethnic not religious minority) had not openly killed each other in Iraq was due to Saddam's non-discriminating iron fist, and that invading could have potentially destabilized the country into a pariah state.

I'm not going to change your mind on what you think is BS, but I do disagree with you. If you have the chance, I highly suggest talking to retired CIA operatives that were active during the Cold War -- the stuff they talk about (when allowed) can be pretty eye-opening.