1) America is not your average country. They are not driven by the same things others are driven by. The policy makers in that country, an infact the majority of its citizens, live to make money. That's their religion and that's what drives them.
Indeed, USA is not an average country.
Attacking Iran in the next decade or two will bankrupt the country. In a way, Iran has already defeated the US by making an invasion too costly.
No, the war is costly due to recession. US is engaged at several fronts; Libya, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It will not open a new front under current scenario.
However, when WOT will end and economic recovery will take place; you can start counting your days depending upon how you play your cards with the US.
2) You speak of formidible powers. I can't recall the last time they fought any formidible "power" (other than the Germans in the World War and even in that war their role wasn't significant compared to all the other European countries).
This is why I stress that my fellow muslims need to read history properly. USA fought against both Germany and Japan during WWII.
US-Japanese conflict began with the incident of Pearl Harbour and it ended in 1945. This was the main WWII front for US. However, German Front got more publicity in media and hollywood.
Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea... Which of those nations was formidible in your eyes?
Focus on these conflicts on the basis of COLD WAR. The war between USA and USSR which lasted for 50 years and it ended with the victory of USA.
You are talking about engagements of COLD WAR. Here is the history;
Korean Front; stalemate for USA (due to intervention of China)
Cuban Front; USSR withdrawal
Vietnam Front; defeat of USA
Afghanistan Front; defeat of USSR
Persian Gulf Front; victory of USA
In the end USSR disintegrated.
In WOT;
OIF is a success.
OEF is yet to conclude.
Also, Persian Gulf War was the most recent military engagement in which US faced a formidable opponent; battle-hardened 4th largest military force in the world led by Saddam Hussain. And this battle was over in just 45 days. The world was stunned. For the first time, the term "STAR WARS" was coined to describe US military power. You don't forget this.
Writing what your brain comes up with is easy, but teaching your brain is harder as you actually have to put an effort into the whole thing.
Iraq was declining in ABSOLUTELY every field after the Iran-Iraq war ended. I'm talking economy, society, infrastructure, science ....
The exact opposite is happening in Iran.
Again, spare us your propaganda.
Iraq recovered a lot quicker than Iran after the conflict between the two countires. Iraq was already causing shock waves in the Middle-East during the early 1990s. It was the Persian Gulf War which resulted in its downfall.
On the other hand, Iran was lucky not to get embroiled in another conflict. It got ample time to recover and prosper.