The Muddle East

Will we ever get our policy in the Middle East right?

We act in the area as if our rightness should be obvious to all, and if not, we can make them pay attention with our might.  We have stubbornly believed that our power and economic cleverness can bring permanent, positive changes, even when it's been obvious those only last while we are physically present.  Once we go away, it's business as usual.

And why not?  Most middle eastern countries have millennia-long ties with their neighbors, and we are far away.  Once we are gone, they must live with these neighbors, so why should they side with us?

We must find ways to connect with these countries which don't require the constant in-your-face presence of military might.

We must also find ways to help our close allies like Israel live with their neighbors without our constant help.  That help has been alienating and Israel would do better with its Arab neighbors without it (once those neighbors agree to live peacefully, that is).

Both are tall orders, which is why they have gone so long without filling. But we must fill them, or continue to muddle on in the Middle East, bringing no permanent improvement despite all of our best efforts.