THE UNITED STATES DREADS DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ

COMMERCIAL MARGINALIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The very benefits to Iran of democracy in Iraq are of concern to the United States. After all, we are there in good part to secure an uninterrupted supply of cheap oil, and to gain 25 million affluent consumers: the Iraqis. (Please make an effort to think imperially.) But if the Shiites take over, Iran will be able to dictate the supply and prices for oil, for at least two major producers (itself and Iraq). Should this materialize, the European Community would assure its lucrative Iranian and Iraqi markets. Airbus Industries, not Boeing, for instance, have been cleaning up in the Middle East. Too, Iran is increasingly looming as a most important source of natural gas for Europe. Not to mention the rather successful boycott of American products in the Arab world. (There are rumors that this boycott is financed by European companies.) In short, commercially, the United States is being marginalized in that region of the world. An Iranian take-over of Iraq is likely to further this marginalization.