re: as a hypothetical situation.................
Your questions, though well put, don't conflict with my values. For me, out actions in Iraq were 'supposed' to be about a perceived threat, not some cockamamie domino democracy effect.
The fact is, we're there now and we need to address the pertinent questions of how do we get out and at the same time allow Iraq to stand on it's own.
Pointing out that our mere presence in Iraq is part of the problem does nothing in the way of offering a solution.