fossil said:
-- the others are nothing more than foot-holds.
-- saddam got too big for his britches and refused to cooperate, so see ya!

So the US (a) calls the shots and everyone must comply? If they don't comply with US demands, then they get attacked? Hmm, interesting take on foreign policy there Fossil. Sounds pretty fucking arrogant, actually.

And (b) Iraq and Afghanistan are "footholds" to attack Iran? Whoa chum. So the USofA, "bastion of democracy" will kill tens of thousands of civilians in other countries in order to attack another country. That makes no sense whatsoever.

No my friend: We are in Afghanistan so that the oil companies can get at the Caspian basin oil/gas deposits before the Chinese and Ruskies do. The US doesn't care if we kill a few wedding parties, or lots of children to do it. Just look at the facts, Karzai approved a brand new pipeline across "his" land shortly after being installed.

We are in Iraq for a few reasons:
1. Attempt to fuck with China's interest in oil/gas in the region.
2. Bad attempt to 'control' OPEC.
3. Back up Israel so they can reassert their military dominance of the area.
4. Sell off Iraq's state-owned assets (which they have done) to American corporations, at "fire sale" prices. Bremmer did that before he left.
5. Lock down the population the US so that they are occupied with bullshit "patriotism", and give a freer hand to the police powers in the US so that they can arrest whomever they please, particularly political dissent "troublemakers", and people who will take a stand for what they believe.

And look, it's working!
ha. ha. ha.