Was there any advantage? From a PNAC standpoint, there was obviously advantage. 1) It allowed the Bush administration to move the narrative from "we were caught unawares" to "Toby Keith Approved." 2) It allowed the United States to assert hegemony over the TAPI Pipeline. 3) It allowed the United States to reshape the Middle East from a disparate patchwork of treaty states to a unified American framework of peace and prosperity. Oops, no it didn't but if you don't think that was the goal you haven't been paying attention. You can't argue that Trump will do anything for money out one side of your mouth and out the other insist that "tangible advantage or benefit doesn't enter into the conversation" out the other. It's ALL about tangible advantage or benefit. Refusing to demean yourself with empathy for your opponent's positions does not eliminate them.