A number of neoconservative members of the administration had urged regime change in Iraq well before taking office, but were unable to turn it into policy during the first eight months of the administration. After September 11, 2001, they quickly moved their policy through the window of opportunity that the terrorist attacks had opened.
第二项理由是用民主政权取代萨达姆可以改革中东政治。政府中某些新保守党成员早在任职以前就已经鼓吹伊拉克政权更迭，但在新政府就职的前八个月都未能推出相关的政策。2001年9月11日后，他们抓住恐怖袭击的机会迅速通过了这项政策。