Bobert, you neglected to give what I consider the biggest reasons for invading Iraq:

7. Daddy got pretty good press by invading Iraq, but was criticized for not carrying through to toss out Saddam. I'll pick up where he left off, and partake of that popularity he gained in some quarters.
and
8. Historically, the nation TENDS (not always, but TENDS) to gather behind a war president, and a war president's position in history is (many times) enhanced.
and
9. Directing the nation's attention to external conflict (along with the aid of #2 above), so I can reshape the culture and economy of the United States and have less criticism than I would have if attention were just on the domestic side.
   and
10. Under the cover of the "need" for wartime patriotism, I can maintain the control and secrecy fetish that I've indulged in all of my political life.

Dave Oesterreich
to my ideological liking and my business liking