I see your point McGrath. You think that Iraq could wind up as US pawns like Germany or Japan after the US occupation post WW II? No, that's not right. More like Saudi Arabia after Gulf War I? No, wait, the US has pulled out of there and we're back to the old "I'll scratch your back..." arrangement we've had for years there.

What exactly did you have in mind?

brucie, I do see it differently. The multinationals are only one part of a political puzzle, and not always the strongest or most influential part. Of course, that's partially because I world for a large international company and realize that nothing's as monolithic or effective as conspiracy theories make them out to be. Then too, I voted against Dubya in 1978, so I've known him longer than most. He really is a boy scout and believes most of this stuff. Big business is a factor, but so are a lot of other countervaling influences.

I do agree with you on one thing entirely. Gunboat Diplomacy will be with us always, at least until boats are no longer militarily significant and we use something else (F16s?). On the other hand, intimidating a country is not the same thing as annexing them.