[techweenie]

Matt, I've seen the argument, but can't put my finger on the original source for the moment.

It's basically this: 'allowing the Iraqi people to feel they had pushed the occupying forces out would build a nationalistic pride, making their 'freedom' a "win" instead of something put in place by an invading army.

IOW, you don't appreciate and value what you don't fight for.'

However, this will never happen, because most people "personify" nations and revert to elementary schoolyard analogies when talking about international relations.