I think he truly wants us to believe he can establish a beachhead in Iraq to export Democracy to the region.  I just can't get around how they figure the Arab world, or anyone for that matter, will acceept democracy from the barrel of a gun.   This is Hegemony, plain and simple  - after they put their puppet in Iraq, it's on to Iran.  If you look at Afganistan, you can see the writing on the wall - the only place that is remotley secure is Kabul - the warlords are back in control  in the provences, and the Taliban is resurgent in the north.  This strategy only works as long as we are willing to put forth the manpower and resources to keep it in place, and Afganistan is allready in trouble.