Morphing IRAq into IRAn

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- By Linking the Iraq operation to a threatening Iran -- or, morphing the two missions -- the Bush Administration appears to making sense of the Iraq invasion for the American people. (I know, they found no mass destruction weapons.)  I say "appears".  They've got a long way to go.

But hasn't that been the problem?  Why the war is important, or, critical to the global strategic interests of the United States?  Why are soldiers dieing? 

It's not enough that we're making headway against the various insurgents through classic counter-insurgency military principles.  It's not enough that American casualties are very low now.  The American people have wanted a reason, a viable reason why our security is tied to the Iraq operation.

Iran is becoming that reason.  With the moronic proclamations from it's diabolical little leader, and Iran's rush for nuclear weapons, the Iraq war has become part of the cold (soon, hot) war against Iran.  Or, by being in Iraq, we're preempting Iran's intention to dominate southern Iraq . that includes the rich oil fields (Iran runs out of oil in about 15 years).

So, the more Iran is demonized, or, the more Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs demonize themselves, the more our presence in Iraq, on their doorsteps makes logical military sense. And  justifies American casualties.  And that's the core passion of anti-war sentiment:  The American people need do know why American men and women are dieing daily.  Why the country's self-defense depends on their sacrifice. 

By the Way, the soldiers, men and women, in Iraq don't need to be told why.. Thankfully.