Oscar

_To make this country a beacon for democracy and to encourage other Arab countries to convert to democratic principles: The Arabs are still not convinced "by the facts on the ground" . And if they were they would be put into jail by their western-backed rulers because the West wants democracy and majority rule for Arabs but only when they agree with us.

_To put pressure on the Saudis who were seen as the real culprit behind 9/11 with their funding of islamic groups,etc.. (but unless you are suicidal you don't attack the main provider of oil to the world): do they feel that pressure? Do they want to reform? For what they have done 9/11 was enough for them to make them realise that they had completely screwed up

_To secure Iraqi oilfields and once again make the West less dependent vis a vis the Saudis: no

_To free the Shias from a Sunni dictatorship,to side with the Shias and to give them commands in Iraq, and that way counterbalance the Sunni domination in the region, responsible for what has gone wrong in the Middle East: The Sunnis feel threatened that's right but the Shias didn't get the message

_To put a "lively shia democracy" right in front of the islamic one so Iranians would feel compelled to reform and adopt a much friendlier tone with the US: no

_To destroy once and for all Arab nationalism with the fall of Saddam and pave the way for a recognition of Israel by the countries of the region "the road to Jerusalem goes through Bagdad":no