Yes, every war is like that, and that is why wars should not be undertaken when they are not absolutely necessary, in other words, when you are being invaded and attacked by someone. The Iraqis face that kind of a war. The USA never has faced such a war since December 1941.

911 was not an act of war by a nation against another nation, it was a criminal act by a small secret paramilitary group. As such, it was an international police and intelligence matter...not a valid excuse to militarily attack either Afghanistan or Iraq. And it was merely that...a convenient excuse...in order to do what Mr Bush's people wanted to do regardless. Iraq was always the target they had in mind, since long before 911.