Explanation: Arminius (sometimes known/reconstructed as Hermann in German histories) was a prince of a Roman-allied Germanic tribe in the early 1st century AD. When he was around ~16, he was taken as a noble hostage to ensure his tribe's compliance - a normal practice in Roman 'diplomacy' - and treated well and educated in the Roman manner. He was recruited into the Roman military as an officer, and given military training as well - when he returned to his tribe, the thinking was, he would not only recognize the GLORY OF ROME, but also be better-prepared to resist any opposing Germanic tribes.

Normally, this tactic actually worked out for Rome. But Arminius had bigger plans than ruling over a Roman vassal - he dreamed of a united Germania, with himself as king. To that end, he skillfully manipulated the Roman governor in charge of Germania, Publius Quinctilius Varus, into falling for an ambush in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, wiping out three Roman Legions (about 15,000 men).

Rome would embark on several punitive campaigns against Arminius, driving him further inland, while his tribe was ruled by his brother instead, who remained loyal to Rome. Arminius, in exile from his home tribe, would eventually be killed by a fellow Germanic who didn't care for Arminius's idea of uniting Germania and ruling as king of the Germanics.

The US made the same mistake with the Taliban in Afghanistan

Gotta tap the sign for this one.

Still safe! The US has shot itself in the face many times like that. For example, we supplied both Iraq and Iran (AFTER the Islamic Revolution), both of whom we would subsequently fight with.

It's just the Taliban in particular that were less a consequence of our own actions.

Haphazardly toying with weapons to the detriment of everyone around us (and ourselves) is our national curse, both literally and figuratively

It doesn't help when you turn the entire system into a circus run by clowns, showmen, charlatans and freaks