Talibans faught Soviets, and Saddam faught Iranians. It was the Cold War, the US could not do what it is doing now, so they financed regime changes instead of sending the US Army.
Iran is a bigger threat to the US than it is to Israel.
You don't read behind the lines. Iranians support revolts in Saudi Arabia and Iraq to install friendly Islamic republics in the region, and the USA would sponsor any dictatorship (military juntas, monarchies...etc) to stop them.
Islamists would love to restrict US access to Middle East oil reserves and end the use of the USD as world's reserve currency.
it's all about oil, it's all about money, it has nothing to do with religion. Israel is a good pawn, and the US will send Israelis up to the Iranian front if they can't send their own soldiers. If Bush fails to convince the American public that a strike is necessary, Israel will do the dirty job. The US never supported peace in Palestine, and won't as long as Israel role remains central in their Middle East strategy (since the Arab Oil Embargo).
