My personal thoughts are that Bush/Cheney are looking to absolutely conquer Iraq and establish a U.S. friendly regime, building strong influences/ties, similar to Germany and Japan in WWII. If you discount the loss of precious human lives (I know that sounds callous) and his plan works, there could eventually be long-term stability in the middle east. Unfortunately, I think there is every bit as much chance that the whole thing slides into WWIII, especially if we go at it alone and against the opinions, and without the support, of most other major nations.