Must be the current BOLO for the Chinese Terrorists affecting my brain, but how might China react to action in Iran? Read a Freep on how China is building a 'string of pearls' to ensure the continued flow of ME oil to their manufacturing base. So, would China see action as a threat to themselves? Seems I was reading that China and Iran are pretty tight.
China would be a war of another sort - might be winable, but it would take a while.
Oil was the only reason for all of the squealing done by the world when we walked into Iraq (note no squealing when we went into Afghanistan). If we do more than just bomb Iran...say walk in and set up one more democracy under our "help" the world will march. To much of the worlds oil under our control.
They themselves would never leave those countries, to much power would come with controlling that oil, and they will not trust us to leave since we know how they have been moving against us. They would expect us to stay to protect ourselves, they would in our shoes.
I have said before WWIII has started it is just not out in the open yet.