- Bimbo.
The reason is simple. Iraq is indeed very weak when compared to the military might of the US. However when compared to its neighbors Iraq is not weak ...it is quite strong!
Think of it as simple strength progression! The smallest adult African lion (or Indian Gir lion for that matter) will see even the biggest German Shepherd as PATHETICALLY weak, even though the pooch is on steroids and psychedelics! However put that same German Shepherd next to a Chihuahua and the story gets flipped.
Same thing here.
The US may see Iraq's army and airfoce and 'manned target drones' and 'mobile AGM targets,' but that does not mean Iraq is weak to Saudi Arabia. Actually weren't the Sauds scared stiff during events leading to the Gulf War? Why? Because Iraq could overwhelm them if they did not receive any US help (although part of me would actually enjoy Iraq smiting Saudi Arabia ...although first i think we should start getting Russian oil before that happened).
Turkey does have an outstanding military. So does Israel, obviously ....remember how Israel managed to defeat several Arab nations at the same time. Egypt too has a huge military capability since it receives the second largest military aid after Israel from the US.
However the only nation that can easily (eliminating such luminaries as Russia and Israel) go in and smack Iraq is the USA. Whcih is why Iraq may be weak to us but still a gorilla to its neighbors.
Trust me, if THEY could have gotten rid of Saddam they would have (and although Israel could easily take care of that problem with the nuclear weapons 'it does not possess' it has prudently chosen to back off and let Saddam get taken care of by the US since that would cause less problems. After all the whole world seems to be against Israel nowadays).
You're right ... I can't argue with that. I just hope we can accomplish a repeat of the Gulf War.