The Mission in Iraq

Think Progress has a good summary of the "mission" in Iraq over the years. Basically it goes like this.

THE PRE-WAR MISSION WAS TO RID IRAQ OF WMD

AFTER THE WAR BEGAN, THE MISSION EXPANDED to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people

THEN THE MISSION WAS COMPLETE (remember mission accomplished?)

BUT THEN IT CONTINUED AGAIN

THEN THE MISSION WAS TO DEVELOP A FREE IRAQ

AND TO TRAIN THE IRAQI TROOPS

THEN IT SHIFTED TO ADVANCING DEMOCRACY

AND PROTECTING AMERICA FROM TERRORISTS

THEN THE MISSION WAS PROVIDING SECURITY FOR THE IRAQI POPULATION

CURRENTLY? It's a new mission.