Well, re:Iraq/Afghanistan, news of soldiers coming back in caskets very much contributed to Bush’s unpopularity. At the end of the day, chanting “we’re fighting for freedom! and democracy!” isn’t enough to keep 'muricans in hawkish zeal. It popped the popular perception that pointy end of the military industrial complex was only for brown people non-americans. Which is why proxy wars are the go-to now, much more secure in support from the metropole.

edit: and less news of Americans dropping missiles on weddings