All right, PPRune Radar & Nearly Man :
I think the answer to the question "will wannabe airline pilot's short term employment prospects be damaged in the event of another Gulf war" is a short, sweet and bleedin' obvious YES!! As long as Dubbya's boys are busy rushing about in Osama's homeland like a bull in a china shop, then I for one will not be flying on any aircraft going to or from the states.
I do think however that discussion of the USA's wider aims and ambitions is a valid topic of conversation for this thread. It's clear to me that until there is some permanent moves to settle down the politics of the middle east, the aviation industry will continue to have a cloud hanging over it. If, however, they can work a miracle and bring about some kind of a settlement that's acceptable to all parties and cools the hot heads of Hamas / Al Qaeda etc, then we could be heading into some absolute golden years for aviation, the wannabe scene, and the world economy in general.