re: Bush speech after 9/11 on top of the rubble still gives me goose bumps...

Removing Saddam Hussein wasn't a bad thing. Chaos in the middle east has been happening since the beginning of time and will continue until we all are well dead and gone. They all hate each other and as long as it is kept this way they are limited threats to the West. ISIS is a thug group that can only try to blackmail by beheading. Beyond their shock value they are relatively amateur.

Anyone can plan and occasionally execute a terrorist attack, however that recourse is limited and of course Americans are much more aware these days. Beyond that the middle east is nothing more than sand. And America can dictate policy by sheer size and by that same logic can be a bit clumsy about it and still make whatever it wants to happen happen.

Within the next few years, and even now the middle east is and will become a sideshow to Russian advancement to the West. That will take Americas attention away because it's now or never for Russia. Demographics, aging and shrinking population dictates they have a short window. One of which they will probe but will not succeed. They are isolated and with the exception of natural gas have limited economic advantages. In other words they will run out of money.

Poland will be the next big player in Eastern Europe in the next 20 years. Middle east will be out of mind.