https://www.theonion.com/monk-gloats-over-yoga-championship-...
I also frequently mention I don't watch television. In fact, I don't even own one.
https://www.theonion.com/area-man-constantly-mentioning-he-d...
Wish it had gone this way. From 1998:
https://www.theonion.com/clinton-threatens-to-drop-da-bomb-o...
the only thing it tells me is that time moves forward and a 70+ year old Vietnam veteran can't fit the role.
if you're saying that it indicates that the conflicts had a large impact, I would argue that actually it's because the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts lasted a long time and had an impact on Americans specifically, and Americans specifically have a large impact on television/movies/media.
Go ask Albanians and Serbs about their 'tiny intervention'.
The Americans lost 4500 in Iraq and 2400 in Afghanistan.
10000ish were killed in the Kosovo War, and 200,000 people ( at least ) were displaced.