Report: Saudis may back Sunnis

This news item, carried by CNN on Dec. 13th, is a major reason why the US cannot simply leave Iraq. As tempting and desirable as that may be, to do so would be to invite a wider regional conflict that will inevitably draw us back to the region and perhaps in an even worse strategic positition than we are at present. Iran is a Shiite power. Saudi is a Sunni power, as are several of the surrounding countries in the region. These Sunni countries will not want to see the rise of a Shiitte Iran to dominate the region and they will take steps to preserve their interests if the United States were to withdraw and leave behind a power vacumn. Without the United States to act as a check on Iranian power, they would have little choice.