Comment: Many miss on the most important fact:

Heads of State Departments are political appointees (from CIA to EPA) and spend most of their time on meetings and talking. Real agenda is set by the clerks inside the agencies. Those have no evil purpose rather than to justify their automatic trade union salary encrease, bonus, pension plan, and perks.

The clerks' main concern is to keep their gainful PERMANENT employment going. Wars create a great opportunity for millions to prosper - career, non-bid contract, job security. That is why when war is over, military presence or nation building is going on for decades. CIA agents are especially fond of wars since they are given billions in cash to bribe others (some money is retained or returned as a kick back.)