When I have time I'll pursue this.
Several of the books I've read have mentioned that Iran was the ultimate goal of Bush & Co., Iraq having value but also a gateway to Iran.
Saddam fought a war with Iran at the behest of the US, and if the mission in Afghanistan is truly to rid the area of the Taliban and al-Qaeda they are going about it in the dumbest manner possible.
Ignoring the history, religion and culture of the area and trying to impose Western values by force over there is the silliest goddamned thing I've seen this country do and I've seen some silly ones. The only repeat only way to do that would be to ship over a bunch of plural-marriage Mormons and out-breed 'em.
I don't have time right now, but will try to find whose skirts I'm trying to hid behind.
Arf