posted on Mar, 14 2005 @ 06:20 PM
Instability in this region would be a major setback for the world economy. Not only is it a major 'choke point' for shipping -- as you pointed out
-- but it is also rich in strategically important resources (which is one of the reasons why Japan tried to hold onto the area until the very end of
WW2). It's also home to one of the fastest growing muslim populations in the world. Instability, or radicalization of the populace, would be a
major setback for the US, indeed.