According to nationalists, a nation-state’s government should be superior to any provisional or smaller, state governments, since it is the federal government that defines the policies of the state as a whole.
In addition to the potential threat Iraq posed to the U.S., Pres. Bush had to take into consideration the threat against U.S. allies in the region. The 2003 invasion of Iraq resulted in the arrest of Saddam Hussein and the removal of his regime.
Imperialist powers did not seek cotton in Southeast Asia.