McGarth. Alliances between countries are ALWAYS based on the premise of quid pro quo. We defend Kuwaiti "independence", they sell us oil.
No one with enough brain to keep their scalp inflated thinks otherwise. If they weren't sitting on top of a huge reserve of oil, Sadam would be in control right now and they know it.
No war is altrustic. They are all fought to keep someone else from controling territory and therefore resources or to gain control of same.
We no longer fight to directly control territory a'la Germany or Japan or England or the US in the days of westward expansion. Now we have alliances that protect our ecomonies.
Why have to administer when you can control from the outside, or have mutual trade agreements. It's cheaper and easier in the long run.

troll