Believe it or not we still import 25% of the petroleum we use in this country. As long as we are still needing that to keep the economy spinning well and the price of oil moderated, it`s better in general to forge a peace in that part of the world. The alternative is more of the same destabilizing terror being based there to be exported to their enemies. It`s better to fight them to a peaceful end there, than wait until they get here.  It`s too late then.  http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=32&t=6