I think the issue is not whether the occupants are better than the other guys, but whether the occupation will lead to a regime which is better. Qualitatively better, so to speak. I hope so, but a lot depends on the will of the Iraqis to work towards that goal. And to some extent, on the will of the Americans to support them, and not to run away like they did in Vietnam.
That's true, but it is a catch 22 (again, one of the reasons I do not like this who;e business). If Americans meddle in Iraqi affairs heavily, they will bring on resentment for being invasive. Their proteges will be seen as mere puppets and will be hated probably more than they deserve to be hated just for being collaborationsts. Vietnam is a fine example of that: before the US got the hell out, it kept escalating, and what good did that bring?
Escalation of Vietnam war was not good, but the really bad part was that the war was surrounded by lies and stupidity, on all sides (stupidity of journalists and pop culture icons had especially painful results). I have a suspicion that this time there are fewer lies but more stupidity.
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But this is a war we cannot choose not to fight.