[hchutch]

Before we move on Saudi Arabia, we have to get new basing, and preferably a new supply of oil as well. The Russians help to an extent, and from what I hear, Venezuela's promised that oil will be available (hmmm... maybe Chavez took the hint from that coup a few months back).

Occupied Iraq would solve both of those problems, AND it takes out the weapons of mass destruction threat, too. It makes a lot of sense, IMO.

[Paul Ross]

The Saudi's are loaded for bear with their sizable stash of secretively-acquired Chinese Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) and this makes the Iraqi SCUDs look like a minimal threat.