Re: The mind -- I would agree to a rephrase . . .
<If, as you say, the Iraqis are pleased, peace is back, commerce is back, people smile again -- why would the "occupation" continue? In recovered/transitioned nations, the U.S. stays when and where invited.
Because even if the majority would be pleased, there will be a small group of opponents who will have fled away to neighbouring countries and they would re-organize themselves to hurt the authorities and even hurt the population.
Ok, these are just theories but there are no lack of them, nowadays.
Raoul