(Regardless of what you think of the argument, the article cited is fascinating.)

Remember when Iraq was about regime change? Period. If Saddam would leave it would all be OK.

And it was not about oil.

Then it was about terrorism, and WMD. And when no WMDs were found, it was never about WsMD. It was about freeing the Iraqi people, bringing democracy to the Middle East.

And it was not about oil.

And "democracy" ain't gonna happen. The insurgency can't be stopped, as at least one military leader acknowledges, and the three factions don't get along. The Kurds are going to insist upon their own de facto nation, for instance, as they had under Saddam.

Recognizing this, the idea that it's not about "democracy" is being floated.

"The United States has essentially stopped trying to build a democratic order in Iraq, and is simply trying to gain stability and legitimacy."

I think, True Believers, you are going to be asked to go forth and defend the idea that it was never about just getting rid of Saddam, it was never about WsMD, it was never about "democracy", it was always about stability in the region.

And it was never about oil. That remains the same.

Arf