Amos,

The fact that the Gulf War threw our economy into a recession is, apparently, not enough to disprove that theory--

Stangely enough, though I haven't specifically heard that theory, I received a post from a LISTSERV group, that states a similar idea related to the WTC bombings--that they were actually executed by the CIA in order to boost the economy with massive increases in defense spendings--

I have read that the reason Saddam was spared has to do with the US Balance of Power Policy in the MidEast--the idea being that there be always be three equal powers, played off against each other--Iran, Iraq, and the Saudi's-when one gets too strong, the US sides with the others against it--In this plan, Iraq is a key player, and the view has been that only Saddam is strong enough to keep Iraq from splitting apart, and he, therefore, must be kept in place- at all costs.

Strange as it seems, this policy has apparently been in place for a long time--the idea itself is an old one, having been developed by Cardinal Richelieu--