the article argues very dubiously that there was a stategic purpose, as part of the struggle against al Qaeda, in the invasion of Iraq. I am utterly unconvinced: not to mention the dubious nature of invading a sovereign nation, albeit an appalling dictatorship, to display "will" and to infuence Iraq's neigbours

the concept of "will" reminds me of the Nazis - far too Nietzsche

plus the concept of the "homeland" which has disturbingly entered American political discourse is reminiscent of the "fatherland" or less provocatively the "heimat"
america is a political, historical and above all cultural entity and wooly notions of the "homeland" and the mythical America of picket fences and Ma's apple pie, some misty eyed 1950s neverland, aren't helpfull

edit i would refer you to Bob Herbert's op-ed in todays NYT which i memed here
what sort of country invades a second to influence 3rd parties, singularly unsuccessfully influenced in the case of the Pakistani intelligence services!
is this the inherent decency that used to be synonymous with America

RE: The U.S. War, Five Years On