Is oil threat really worth all this fuss?

WASHINGTON President Jimmy Carter had the Soviet Union in mindwhen he declared in January, 1980: "An attempt by an outside force togain control of the Persian Gulf region would be regarded as anassault on the vital interests of the United States of America, andsuch an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, includingmilitary force."

Ten years and two presidents later, military force is beingapplied, but in circumstances Carter never imagined. The threat isnot from outside the gulf, but from within. It has nothing to dowith the Soviet Union, which - marvelous to tell - is lined up withthe United States. The new bad guy is Iraqi strongman SaddamHussein.

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