G'Day All,<br />I had to start a new topic because the time zone difference means I always come in at the butt end of the good discussions. <br />I see from another topic that Plywoody seems to have a reality adjustment problem. <br />A few points:<br />1. NOBODY repeat NOBODY likes to ship out to some flyblown pesthole halfway around the world and have the citizens of same pesthole do their best to blow his head off.<br />2. Those in charge of those shipping out do not send them away on a whim. Most politicians know that misuse of power will be avenged at the ballot box.<br />3. The lunatics in charge in Iraq had money, connections, absolute power and a intense dislike of the West.<br />4. Other lunatics in the region who adhere to fundamental forms of Islam and also hate the West watch TV.<br />So how do these four points relate to the header topic?<br /><br />If Saddam is shown not to have some form of NBC (Nuclear,Biological&Chemical) weaponry, it matters not.Point 3 and enough time would have remedied that deficiency.<br />If other crazies in the region want to meet their god real quick they know now how to do so.Their local TV has shown them what happens when you fire a RPG7 at a M1 tank.Point 4 explained.<br />If you want to sit on your arse and do nothing to stop your house burning down around you while you wait for the fire brigade to arrive then all they will be able to do is damp down the ashes.In some situations you must act with speed.This was one of those.See Point 2.<br />Point 1 needs no explanation. But without a well trained Military all the talk in the world is just waffle. <br />So what about the cheap oil?<br />It is simple. The old WIN-WIN situation.Iraq loses Saddam. The surrounding hardline lunatics slink back under their rocks for a good while to lick their wounds and wonder what the US Military is going to do with the left-over MOABs. The oil will flow from Iraq in due course and the OPEC cartel will have to cave in. <br />There is nothing wrong with having cheap oil. We still have to consume it whatever the cost. This war was not about oil but if we that's the way things work out then so be it.<br /><br />That's what I think. You can take it or leave it.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Peter.