Yes. There's a lot more at stake than "democracy".
No one seems to have prepared, or prepared us, for the kind of bloody long-term commitment we now face, and Americans will not accept that commitment unless told why. And why should we?
The culture that produced 911 is violent, frustrated, angry, and humiliated. They blame us. If we don't change it or destroy it we face endless more 911's - enough of a threat to the destroy the open society so vital to our economy.
There's no other choice. There's no defence against boxcutters.
And how many Iraqis exactly were involved in 9-11?