[JohnW]

OK obviously mixed ideas on this. If we stay though, what are we actually achieving now? Also, I've asked this question before, if this is all about oil, what are we actually getting out of it. We are not pinching Iraq's oil are we? The war is costing us a bloody fortune so where is the profit for us?

Just a further thing to ponder also. The disruption of oil supply would affect the US more than any other country. I concede that. But please don't forget, if the western world's economies go up the spout, so does the rest of the world. So really, it is as important to any country in the world, who trades with Europe and the Americas, to keep things moving and keep the oil flowing. Why should the whole world be held to ransom by a few middle eastern countries, which, but for western technology, ie. the internal combustion engine, would still be grubbing around in the sand catching lizards for their dinner. The only reason they have anything at all is because they happen to be sat on large underground lakes of the stuff that keeps western industry moving.