I was thinking self-interests more in the sense of national security, but economics probably comes into play too, who knows. I can't say it's ENTIRELY in self-interest either, I believe at least part of the motivation of doing such things is to help people who're in a bad situation, but it's likely more self-interest than not, and that's how it should be.

I think the specific reason "Iraq has nuclear weapons and will use them on us soon!" will likely turn out to be false. But I think that the Middle East in general is a threat to us, to our allies, and to itself. I think it's a problem that's been ignored for a very long time, and the results have been terrible. I think huge changes need to take place over there. It's not my place to say when or how; I'm not qualified to make those decisions, or else I'd be a general myself. But I am happy to see ANY change for the better in that region, and I think the war in Iraq was a change for the better.