Contemplate the truth during your year in the green zone. Paul is the lunatic fringe in fiscal and international matters and he will be marginalized for his lack of understanding.

The people you are talking about are insane, they do not need a logical reason and they will not respond to reasonable negotiation. You are getting ready to discover some truth on your own, first hand. Good luck.

I would suggest you study the history of the ME, the real history and not some revisionist claptrap.

Since we are adults, let's keep in mind that the goal is not regeneration of a pitiful former feifdom. The actual goal is to keep oil flowing and the lid on lunatic muslims intent on setting the world back 500 years. The impact of an ever expanding and uncontrolled jihad across the ME assisted by nuclear weapons can't be allowed. I will state right now that a military presence in the ME is going to be needed for a very long time. Once their oil runs out they will get less attention than last week's paper.