NASA's moon base plans

I get the impression I am being very miss-understood here.

I think there are loads of really good reasons to go to the Moon. My issue is that from reading that news release NASA don't seem to know why they want to go! Untill they can tell me WHY they are planning to go I don't think they should be given any money.

The other examples given like the voyagers all had very clear aims. NASA knew why they were going!

there is always a reason Bart,
they went to the moon to beat the Russians.
They're going back because George W says so, as soon as his gone, I'd bet that aim will change.

Space exploration will only make real advances when we get to the point where there are genuine opportunities to exploit the resources that are out there. Right now governments control 100% of everything outside Earth Orbit. Commercial space exploitation is what we need to really get off the ground.

If any one has not seen The Irish Examiner today there a nice piece in it about NASA plans for a moon base.