As we (US regardless of party) tend to change our stance relative to MidEast every time a new administration takes office.

Since we are dealing with a collective with a much longer attention span, we have near zero credibility on our best days and with our best Presidents.

Certainly the thought of introducing a democratic government in the region as a "proving ground" has a certain intellectual appeal, hence all of the "think tank" activity.

This administration had a complete mental breakdown, though, by thinking they could do that with Iraq. They became the country of convenience.

On the flip side, turning isolationist and not paying attention at all only means we seal our fate to concentrate the wealth in those countries to the ruling families and leave the rest in incredible poverty...feeding the cycle of radical islam.

And, by pinning our largest real threat in the region (Iran) between two active fronts we simply offered them incentive to do everything in their power to disrupt the process on both sides.