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From the cited article

"So a war most conservatives had backed as a preemptive and unapologetic defense of our homeland and our allies from killer weapons was being explained to us after the fact as a humanitarian mission and an enforcement of UN resolutions."

That seems to sum it up.

If no further casualties had occurred after the ousting of Saddam, I'm sure liberals would be spinning it this way. Upon reflection, isn't that how the President is spinning it?

I'd guess the neocon influence is over-estimated. Those wanting to ensure a free market for oil are probably more influential than ideological neocons. Also, it always seemed to me the the President and many other others actually DO understand militant, exclusivist Islam (flush with oil money in the last generation), but maintain a facade of political correctness.