The Africa Command will dominate the Middle East, that much is certain, but it is not doing so that the US will directly profit from Iraq's oil, but that we can keep the trade routes open for everyone. On top of that, we will have hopefully controlled the reckless nuclear proliferation in the region, ended large amounts of state sponsored terror from the region, and also been available to police up Africa, central Asia, Iran, and even limit Chinese influence in the region.
In turn, the region will benefit immensely from democracy supplanting dictatorship, prosperity and development supplanting corruption and decay, and peace supplanting continual strife. Plus protection against missile proliferation and piracy as well.
Yes, we should be there for a good, long time. And when we finally do leave, the Iraqis should be as strong and prosperous as was Germany and Japan when we left them.
