Parallels of the Spanish American War and the Iraq War

About a century ago, some men wanted control of Cuba as much as today's conservatives want control of Iraq. And like today's conservatives, they got it. Then, like now, the planning went back many years. In 1854, following a failed attempt to buy Cuba for one hundred thirty million dollars, three American diplomats signed a manifesto in Belgium that explained Cuba's importance to Spain, and that it be imperative "To detach that island from the Spanish dominion."
Cuba was thought to be the key to Caribbean relations as a democratic Iraq is considered the key to friendly and tolerant middle…