TIbs et al,
AMERICAN foreign policy in the entire ME region, from Turkey to all the 'Stans to the Chinese border, to the southern end of Pakistan, across the pond to Arabia and then into the Saharan countries has been abysmal.
The US did not start the problems there (be they religious of any sort), but has chosen, repeatedly, to back despots, then to walk away in disgust only to find the next iteration far more problematic and radicalized.
A really good start to understanding this is the movie "Charlie Wilson's War", because it provides a very believable context for differential US involvement.
It is clear to most observers that the long term effect of the US choosing one side, then working against it (or abandoning it) after a period (Iran, Iraq, India, Egypt, Libya, Israel) has been clearly negative. If this were not true, then the US should be able to point to one area in the ME as a "good job". This doesn't exist, because successive US regimes have changed the game plan repeatedly, leading to the deaths and suffering of so many people that they had "supported".
The US can either be the global "Police" or not.
If the US chooses to sideline itself, and let the Russians act as the Police, fine. This seems to be what is happening now.
The Russians and/or the Chinese are quite capable of implementing order in some parts of the ME.
Lets move on to the real discussion of what that means over the long term.
Or not, with the clear implication being that the US then must regain its position as the toughest cop on the beat.
Carter ****** up Iran, and look what happened. Bush I ****** up Iraq and look what happened. Clinton ****** up Bosnia and look what happened. Bush II ****** up Afghanistan and Iraq, and Obama has made things worse (clear because ISIS exists). Adding in the clear devolution in Egypt, Libya, Syria and terrible relations with Israel, it is hard to understand which of the SUCCESSIVE FUCKTARDED US ADMINISTRATIONS has been worse.
This myopic attitude might actually be understandable, even lauded, if the homeland was benefitting. But the Veterans have been royally screwed by the same governments, and the poor and racially identified minorities seem far less tolerant than 10-20 years ago. It seems very clear that US citizens are far less "American" than just a few years ago. Multiculturalism might work over the long term, but the US's clear departure from the "melting pot" has had nothing but intolerance, frustration and division as dividends, and mimics the clear prior example of Canada/Europe. Where is the progress? When? How?
Charlie Wilson said it best.