What we have is simply an 21 century version of American imperialism started by Bush and continued by Obama who apparently thinks he can "improve" it. Typically it has been rethuglicans who perpetuate imperialism, but in this case, as in LBJ's, democrats can participate.
After taking the Philippines in the Spanish American War in 1898, the US then occupied the Philippines until granting their independence in 1946. US President McKinley said:
"When I next realized that the Philippines had dropped into our laps I confess I did not know what to do with them... And one night late it came to me this way... 1) That we could not give them back to Spain- that would be cowardly and dishonorable; 2) that we could not turn them over to France and Germany - our commercial rivals in the Orient - that would be bad business and discreditable; 3) that we not leave them to themselves - they are unfit for self-government - and they would soon have anarchy and misrule over there worse than Spain's wars; and 4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died."— U.S.President William McKinley.<5>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_%281946%E2%80%931965%29There is a reason that Bush and his ilk were called "neo-conservatives". They are simply 19th century robber barons using Christianity to whip the US into a jingoistic fervor to profit from war and neo-colonialism.
So now, the US "must" occupy Iraq for 50 years or so to "civilize" Iraq, because apparently the BIRTHPLACE OF CIVILIZATION DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNANCE!
I don't care if you call it the War is over, or the occupation is ended, or happy Rumplestilskin day. It isn't OVER until all the troops are home.
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