I realise this is an old thread, but I'd like to add my two-penneth, er, two-cents-worth.

I reckon deeepo is technically correct, as the P has a vowel either side, so the vowel before the P is pronounced as it's "name" sound - in this case E as in pEter, not e as in pets.

Following on with my theory, it would appear the American pronounciation of tomato is correct, and us Brits stick an invisible "r" in the word. So tomAto, not tomarto. We manage to get potato right though.

However, I can't go along with Iraq (eye-rack). Same thing of course, vowel either side of the R, so should the first vowel be I rather than i? Well, it's not an English word I reckon, so the same rules wouldn't apply - otherwise Paris would be Pay-riss.

Well, that's my theory anyway!

Hmm, I wonder if depot is a French word? In which case........ !