[Moneyguy1]

I meant to answer this sooner.

Iraq: We here in the U.S. receive only a small portion of our oil from the M.E. while Europe and other regions depend on it. But, economics being what it is, Mexico and others take full advantage of shortfalls to make certain their profits are maximized by charging the "going rate". That being said, if Iraq had invaded one of its "oil rich" neighbors and created a shortfall that would impact Europe in real terms, not just in cost, their sense of "enlightened self-interest" would mobilize them (the Europeans) and the "coalition of the willing" would be much bigger.

This was the case in Kuwait. So, we have historical precident upon which to base the above scenario.

To much of the world, the Iraq situation looks like a case of perceived unfinished business on the part of GWB, despite the fact that his own father urged him to reconsider.

We should not be the world's police force. It is, like I have said before, "The death of a thousand cuts".