Top 11 fallback justifications for the war in Iraq.

11. We're fighting them there, so that we won't have to fight them here until they're better trained.

10. We're fighting them there because they threatened to convert their reserves to Euros.

9. We're fighting them there because acquiescing to bin Laden's demand to vacate our base in Saudi Arabia meant establishing another foothold in the oil-rich region.

8. We're fighting them there because there would be no 'them' if we weren't there.

7. We're fighting them there because the oil is better over there.

6. We're fighting them there to scare you into giving up the freedoms for which they hate us.

5. We're fighting them there, so that Europe will have to deal with them.

4. We're fighting them there, because a war-president gets his legislative agenda passed.

3. We're fighting them there because a war-president gets re-elected.

2. We're fighting them there because capturing bin Laden would be counter-productive.

1. We're fighting them there, because the ambiguous, collective 'them' is the only link between Iraq and September 11.

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