http://http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070828/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_iraq_5;_ylt=ArTJaIZhMxvOplrFz7yytVAL1vAI

Iran exploiting our weakness? ...trying to keep us there longer so as to maximize the damage to our economy? Smart chess move on his part, IMO, especially the position in which we are currently sitting. Our economy is still strong right now, mostly due to the amount of goods and basic materials we're selling to China. The only problem is we're perched precariously upon the international consensus of how strong the dollar is...and this matters a lot being that our dollar is no longer based upon the gold standard. That's my 2 cents...please feel free to give me change.

It is well known that we will leave at some point. Iranians are not Arabs- they're Persains and don't get along well with the rest of the middle east. Historically they ruled the region and consider themselves in that role.

Like the article says- Iraq really helps them. We know that weapons of mass destruction that Saddam had came from us- to be used against Iranians in their war when they thought Iran was weak. We also shot down an Iranian airliner (200+ people?) so, they really aren't interested in being friends.

The Saudis are scared that Iran is getting more power- because like our other 'allies' there, they aren't a democracy (Saudi Sheiks, Egyptian presidents-for-life, Kuwaiti Sheiks, etc.). If a religious government can take hold like it did in Iran, goodbye royal power.

I don't know what the solution is- but I do know we've screwed the pooch with the invasion. We should have left the Iraqi army in charge, but instead we sent them home to settle personal scores and created the civil war.

I can't see a good exit strategy for us- but I know we can't stay long- we're one 'enemy' everyone wants to shoot at this point.

Yes sir, everyone wants a bite of the U.S.

Iran wants to have some political and economic control of Iraq, and seemingly they have quite a bit of control already.

China sits quietly, patiently, and waits. All the while amassing an incredible economy, with booming industry which is soaking up natural resources around the world. Their military grows stronger every year, and their political pose has remained consistent. They are determined to become THE world superpower. This is old news. They have been biding their time for decades, working to steal trade secrets, copy products and designs, corner markets of natural resources, and do everything they can to advance their technology....on other's dollars and ingenuity.

I agree- China is by far the biggest threat.

They have nuclear weapons. They have space-weapons. They aren't afraid to use those weapons, even on their on people. They buy companies around the world on the free-market- using state-owned banks.

Why are we helping them with 'most favored nation' trading status, ignoring their currency manipulation? Because government is in the pocket of industry.

I'm a little surprised to not read any post of the Russia-Iran connection, and that many in Russia - still very envious, and very mad about our involvement in their getting their asses kicked in Afghanistan - are probably supporting the weapon distribution to Iraq.

The recent bringing-back of bomber flights aren't suggesting something?

I see China as our own fault, and rectifiable if we take action soon enough. I don't see Iran and Russia as being anything but aggression-oriented, and for very little reason. If both would just participate int he world economy, and stop the shit, they'd be better off in the long run. China, on the other hand, is leveraging to beat us through the world economy - and they have the right to if we're too stupid to watch our own business.

Its so obvious that even a caveman understands it...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/30/australia.bush.ap/index.html