[goody2shooz]

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, asked if Iran would back Iraq's call to use oil as a weapon against the West to pressure Israel's hand...said...If they decide to use oil as a weapon, it would be very effective...

Stupid question, really dumb answer.

There are other nations pumping crude oil (see one of the posts above for a short list). The Middle East would be just another sand box, granted a very large one, if they didn't sell their crude oil.

[okie01]

"Stupid question, really dumb answer."

Especially since, without oil exports, the combined economies of the oil-producing states in the Middle East roughly amounts to...Finland's.

If you're an Arab state in the Mideast and you ain't pumpin' oil, you ain't doin' (or earnin') squat!