Understandable conservative view: why we invaded Iraq

I ask a conservative blogger on a Blogcritics thread: "Jeez, Dave, if we didn't go in there for oil and military bases -- remember, they started planning for this war way before 9/11, terrorism, etc -- why the fuck did we go in there? You tell me. Please."

Republican Dave replies: "Is this Remedial Foreign Policy 101?

"OK, we didn't go in for oil, because we could have had all the Iraqi oil we wanted at a lower price from Saddam just for the asking. He was more than willing to sign on for an exclusive oil deal with anyone who backed him up if given the chance. In addition, we make our money from oil distribution more than extraction, but no matter how the oil got out of Iraq, US interests get their share. Saddam couldn't export his oil without going through the multinationals who handle all oil refining, transportation and distribution. Invading Iraq to get the oil - guaranteeing the fields will be shut down for a year or more - doesn't pass the test of logic.

"As for military bases, we stated at the very beginning of the war that we had no intention of establishing permanent bases in Iraq and our actions since that time have born that out. We already have permanent bases in the area and have had them for years. More bases would only make sense if we intended to occupy Iraq for the long term, and there has never been any indication that such was our intention. In fact, the original neocon plan for reconstructing Iraq was completely incompatible with the idea of a long-term military occupation.

"Finally, the reasons we went into Iraq were mostly pragmatic and geographical. First, Iraq was one of the most suitable countries for establishing democratic, non-islamist government, ironically because of Saddam's socialist anti-religious regime. Second, it was one of the weakest and easiest to invade countries in the areas. Third, it has the most desirable location for influencing the countries around it. It adjoins Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia - the three real problem countries of the region. Taking Iraq breaks up transportation between those countries and puts heavy pressure on them. Then look at where else we invaded. What's right between Afghanistan and Iraq - what country have we essentially surrounded. Let me give you a hint - it's the country where Osama is currently getting his dialysis, where money for the Iraqi insurgency is coming from, and where they have real WMDs and have just reopened the nuclear program the UN sealed several years ago.
Dave

IF ONLY MORE PUNDITS could be this logical, clear and quite calm. Pity he's on the other side.