U.S. Called to Save the Day Again!

I guess it's just one of those things that you have to deal with when you're the most powerful nation in the world (but how long will that last?).

Me: What is the core of the problem in the Middle East?
King Abdullah of Jordan: What is the Israeli-Palestinian dispute?
Me: I'm sorry, your majesty, but the correct answer is Islamic extremism.

Yep. And King Abdullah is positive that if the U.S. doesn't play a stronger role in the peace negotiations, there's going to be a new war. I'm not an expert, but it seems to me as if there's already a war going on. Abdullah added, "If it's left to the players, the Israelis and the Palestinians by themselves, we're not going to get anywhere — it can only happen if there is an American umbrella with a determined American president." I was pretty young when what I'm about to mention happened, but wasn't Bill Clinton a "determined American president" who attempted to restore peace (wait, restore? Has there ever been peace?) to that region? And didn't that attempt ultimately fail since we're back to square one? Like I said, the root of the problem is Islamic extremism, and until Iran stops funding terrorist groups and until Obama realizes that these people want to kill us, not have brunch with us, there won't be peace.

But you know what, Abdullah's comment is so....infuriating. It is just another example of someone begging us to help, and then when we do help, we get criticized. And everyone's always telling us to mind our own business. I say let Israel take care of it. Their patience is thinning; they are extremely capable; and I'm pretty sure they're getting tired of all this mierda.