And exactly how do we retaliate? That's what we have been trying to do with little success.
IMHO if we pulled out of Iraq, Iran would march in. A guaranteed way to start an Iran-Israel war.
Israel would/could not accept Iran that much closer to its border.
That aside, Iran would/could hold much of the world's oil supply hostage. They could threaten Kuwait, Saudi Arabia.
It would be a forward Al Qaeda base set on overthrowing the Saudi kingdom. A goal we know he has.
OBL gives 'reasons' for attacking us, blah blah. When he needs to he dreams up another.
Heck, that bunch is still pissed about the Crusades.
I don't really care if they topple the Saudi Regime, but I doubt they have the capability to do so. If they were successful against the Saudi Regime in any way, it would be to wrest the Holy Lands in Western Saudi (Mecca, Medina, and the surrounding areas) away from the House of Saud. They can play Caliphate in the sandbox of Western Saudi Arabia.
I'm tired of the doomsday scenarios that aren't even remotely plausible.