Inappropriate Avatar (Swastika)

[Guiscard]

AAFitz is right in saying Oil wasn't the only reason... America is the world hegemon at the moment (since the end of teh Cold War, when Russia was co-Hegemon), and a prosperous democratic ARAB (I.E. not Israel) state basically founded by the US in the middle east would do a world of good . A good friend who is currently doing a PHD on Operation Iraqi Freedom recently pointed out an interesting thing I hadn't thought of: If we set up a stable democracy where people are economically better off, have civil rights and eat at McDonalds what are the people in neighbouring Arab Monarchies (e.g. Saudi) going to think? We want these things too... Our leaders won't let us have Big Macs... Dissent among the Arab nations, and Iran, which will 100% benefit America.

[foolish_yeti]

okay, just quickly before I take off, another motive for the attack would be to demonstrate what the States has now actually come out and said- basically that if you are percieved to be acting against american interests we will pre-emptively destroy you- rule the world by force. Not a new practice for the States, but now they've actually admitted it. Iraq is a demonstration, since actions speak louder than words.