Buff ... get real.
Mike - the invasion of Iraq does not fall into the category of Gulf War I, the invasion of Panama, the multiple invasions of Nicaraqua (the Army had three different Nicaraqua campaign medals in the records before the talk of invasion in the 80s), et al.
The fallacy of the Administration's overall plan is that they regarded it as a "small" war. This is a war similar in scope to Vietnam or Korea, not an invasion of Panama, not an invasion of [insert Central American nation here] in order to secure an apppropriate ROI for United Fruit - not even Gulf War I.
You don't need to limit yourself to America in finding an example of a successful imperialstic war in the 20th century - you're welcome to use another power. Any other power will do.