Fair points, all of them. I'd just question the popularity of a guy who hasn't been in Iraq for so many years. Help rebuilding, sure. But we shouldn't be seen as 'installing' him as a President... IMO.
We certainly won't install any President. That's something we'll make sure the citizens do several years after some new democratic institutions are in place.
We are going to run the place for at least two years. Iraqis will be in an advisory role until then, and we'll still pull the strings for a few years more.
The blood of our men won't be wasted, as long as Bush is President.