Might say from a democratic historical point of view, the US has been lucky to get away with it.

Any Western academic must admit that American intrusion into Islamic countries is always done in the hope for both Western economic and political gain.

In fact, it is said to be the main reason bin Laden turned into a terrorist

Indeed, taking a philosophical view, it might be said that the Bush venture into Iraq may be among the few mistakes the US has made, seeng that they went into to oust the Islamic Sunnis, but forgot that the Islamics they went into save are actually religous blood brothers and sisters to the Iranian Shi-ites.

So now we find the only way for Obama to make some sort of peace in Iraq, is to keep on doing deals with Saddam's former Sunni Shaiks, as Bush did to ignite the Surge.

No mention of American/British (Coca Cola etc.) companies that continued to operate in Nazi German while both Britain and the USA were at war with Germany. Don't let a little thing like ideological conflict or war get in the way of profit.