Hey Ron my simplistic little international expert:

"as for your theory that because the majority of Islam is Sunni, they will make common cause with al-Qaeda: how popular is al-Qaeda with the Saudi regime? With the Egyptian regime? Etc." - The Saudi's said that they would support the Sunni's didn't they? They won't give a damn whose fighting alongside them Iran is their enemy.

Ever heard of that old dictum - The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Now to put that into perspective Ron. Saudi Arabia doesn't give a flyin' fuck about what happens in Iraq as long as Iran does not come out the winner. That you complete and utter pillock is why they are currently aligned with the US as far as general policy goes in the region - HAVEN'T YOU BLOODY GOT THAT - Or are you just too thick to realise it. The Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia will not let the Sunnis in Iraq fail and will support whoever is fighting for them because unlike you Ron they are realists.

The basis of this realism stems from this fact - If the US withdraw from Iraq prematurely rather a large number of states within the region are in deep SHIT, now they realise that Ron - YOU on the other hand have not given it a minutes thought, you have been too busy abandoning US troops as a throw away gesture in "Kurdistan".

Hey Ron wake up smell the coffee - believe it or not pal - you - the United States of America - are in a fight for your lives in both Iraq and Afghanistan - It is a fight that you must win - acknowledge that reality and get to grips with it, or alternatively stand back and watch your own self destruction.