re: Good questions, Ed . . .
. . . but I doubt you'll get a real answer -- other than:
"Well, why the 'long' wait?!", or "Why the 'convenient' timing?!", ignoring, of course, the fact that we were busy with Afghanistan security and local troops training, as well as the removal of Hussein & Co., both of which are paramount to establishing any form of enduring peace for the region. And as for timing, should Bush fail to be reelected -- who's gonna follow through?
Dan