Yep.
I think that it was an attempt to establish a more influential posture for the US in the region which was our primary reason for invading Iraq in the first place (in '03). There were other reasons, too, but this was the long-term, behind-the-scenes reason, as I pointed out in one of my first posts in the Zone.It also explains the ferocious opposition to our being there by everyone now, even those who had much to gain by our presence.
You will note when Bush I invaded Iraq, he made it clear that American hegemony or occupation was not his aim, and he got extensive cooperation from other players in the area, including the Syrians.