[joesbucks]

There, IMHO, will be suffering no matter the decision and actions taken.

[kabar]

We would have been far better off supporting the Shah. We lost a valuable ally in the region and the Iranians lost hundreds of thousands in Iran-Iraq war.

Iran is now the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism. They have killed hundreds of Americans and supported Hamas and Hezbollah.

The removal of the Saudi Royal Family could allow radical Islamic fundamentalists to take over. No doubt Iran would be involved using the sizeable Shi'a population of the Eastern Province of the Kingdom as surrogates.