[Cicero]

Exactly. Iraq is the keystone of the arch. If you go in there first, then Iran will probably have a regime change from within, as the Iranians finally overthrow their puritan clerics. Then, once you have a stable grip on Iraq's oil, you can afford to deal with Saudi Arabia. To take on the Saudis without that handle on Iraqi oil reserves would be to risk an international economic catastrophe. Not only that, but the downfall of the Iraqi regime will probably destabilize the Saudi Royal family, giving us a good excuse to go in and straighten things out.

The remaining domino in this picture is Syria, which Hitchens neglects to mention. We will probably need to invade Syria, too, and free Lebanon from the terrorists who infest it. That will likely be the next step right after we finish with Saddam.

[Burkeman1]

Then why not be honest about it? Why not talk about these options in the open? Or are the American people too stupid to know all these secret plans? Whatever happened to the Weapons of Mass Destrution? Maybe little 18 year old Johnny in Alabama should know all this before he signs up for the marines and is put in harms way?