Mapping a tinderbox of possibilities

Attempting to predict whether a war between Iran, Israel and the West will occur is an exercise in speculation akin to asserting that the uprisings in the Arab world will lead to real freedom and democracy in the Middle East — obviously no one has either answer yet; Executive does not pretend to either, not does it advocate conflict in the region. However, based on interviews with a vast array of experts and in-depth research conducted as part of this Special Report on Energy Wars, Executive has compiled a list of possible scenarios that could pan out in the region’s near future.  1: Persian powder keg Tehran has repeatedly stated it would close the 30-kilometer wide Strait of Hormuz if the United States sends more war ships through the channel. The US bolsters the two carrier groups already in the Gulf, with the massive naval build up prompting an embattled Iran