Plans within plans with Iraq and meeting new threats in the future
 

The war in Iraq isn't about oil, at least not directly. Keep in mind that there are bigger fish to fry in our global kitchen. When I read the official mission statement for the US military over the next 50 years the major concern isn't just combating terrorism but also to be prepared for a war with China. China now consumes a fraction of the world's resources (energy sources) but will need at least 30% of the world's energy to keep itself running in the next 10-20 years. We are very happy that China is watching us perform in combat because it deters them from encroaching on Russia's oil reserves and timber along the Chinese and Russian boarder; at least for the time being.

In Afghanistan we proved that our military is second to none. In Iraq we etched in stone that the UK is the only true ally that stands with us. This terrified the french and Germans (and most of the world) because they cannot nor never will have the capabilities nor training that we do.

Remember that when we commit to an operation you can be sure that it isn't a narrow, single minded goal.

Tyranny and democracy cannot coexist and this fact is embedded in our values which is why we must take action.