You’ve posed the question ‘do the American’s manipulate the world for their own interests?’ Yes, at their worst they are venal, duplicitous and self-serving and I have to admit that I retain a healthy scepticism concerning their current motives. Yet, I also believe we cannot afford to let such regimes go unchallenged nor can we allow such arms to proliferate. Something has to be done. But, it is clear that the US will be one of the major beneficiaries in the region. It will enable Washington to obtain a strategic opening, create a buffer zone and reinforce its partnership with conservative states. Considering the years of massive reconstruction, Iraq will require substantial Western investment and support; one has to admit they will be well-poised to meet future events. In assessing the strategy from the perspective of US interests the outcome, on balance, will be positive and will provide the US with further opportunities to expand and further legitimise its regional role.