Quite frankly, I think it should extend to more than just justification for war.
The impact of that war, and what it will mean is another issue.

One thing that bugged the heck out of me, and I thought it should have been grounds for Rumsfield's immediate firing, is how the current administration EXPLICITLY PREVENTED any "post-war" planning for Iraq.
In other words, they didn't want to ask the question of how long the occupation would take and how much it would cost and how much man-power would we need because they didn't want that to be an issue when they are trying to persuade people to go to war.

Just because America goes in and whacks things and people with a big stick doesn't mean things will get better. Doesn't mean it will be worth it in the long run.

If I recall correctly f66, when asked about the Iraq War exit strategy before their invasion, the Bushies, possibly including Rummy, arrogantly said: "Victory."

Pin heads!

But, how does one know if there is "victory" if it can't be measured somehow?

(If they worked for me directly, I would have fired them for not having laid out a set of objectively measureable goals to meet prior to taking on such a task. Incompetent boobs!)

f66,
The pathetic thing is, I believe he sincerely meant it.
He's really quite more the policy buffoon than his critics suggested.
There's not much mystery about it bd.
Distinguishing a stable, prosperous, low crime democracy from a budding Islamic theocracy in civil War isn't brain surgery.

If Iraq was the former, a few $hundred $Billion, and the Iraqi commercial power and water infrastructure in Baghdad could have been brought up to world-class standard, and Iraq's oil revenue from there could have rendered it a prosperous, modern nation.

As it is now, the explosions, the gun fire, the stench in the air of burning tires and human flesh, and the unending body count suggests that the over half-$Trillion we have squandered there has only made the U.S. WORSE off than we were while Saddam was in power.

I believe we can "know" this with both qualitative, and quantitative certitude.

However, while Iraq is a highly centralized State (which makes Baghdad so key to the prosperity of all Iraq), there are parts of Iraq which seem to be doing fairly well.
But this wellness does not seem to be contagious.