SERIOUSLY CINDY, ALL KIDDING ASIDE, IF YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST KNOW WHAT YOUR SON DIED FOR, THEN HERE IT IS (MOST OF IT)

(1) to strengthen US global dominance in the 21st century.

(2) To fracture independent nationalist movements which might encircle the "lone superpower" and serve as countervailing powers in a multi-polar world,

(3) to make a bold statement to the world that the US is willing to use massive military force, at great cost in money and lives, without justification and without regard for international law

(4) to increase US leverage on the world's oil spigot, giving the US security establishment veto power over who has energy for war and industry, and who doesn't;

(5) to establish an ongoing military presence and massive staging area in Iraq, enabling the US to control crush uprisings and control politics throughout the region;

(6) to privatize Iraq's previously natinalized economy to the benefit of US corporations and the rest of the US corporate-political power structure.