Almost right, Alpha. After Iraq comes Syria, imho, then the road...

Almost right, Alpha. After Iraq comes Syria, imho, then the road is open for Israel. One reason you don't get Saddam's mug on the TV is because he's highly unpopular with the exiles and the muslims inside and outside Iraq, particularly in Iran and probably in Afganistan and elsewhere. So, no Saddam to frighten thee guys off, who by now think that a coup has dislodged him but the generals know that if the fight isn't dinkum they'll get "couped" themselves. Either that or they're making deals with the US as we speak, but that I doubt. No?