I just wanted to share a quick thought about how, no matter what the US does, we just can't seem to win in the Muslim world. In Iraq, we get made out as villains for ousting an evil dictator and setting up a democracy. In Egypt, we're villains for allying ourselves with a (somewhat less evil) dictator and staying out of their internal affairs. In Pakistan, we're villains for what? Supporting a democracy! With billions of dollars, no less, which helps to provide stability and jobs.
Doing absolutely nothing isn't an option either. We left Afghanistan alone for more than a decade (after helping them to fight off foreign influence), and look what happened. And we also become villains for not doing enough in Palestine. Nor does anyone want us to stay out completely, because they want to sell us oil, and the bedding set we have that was made in Pakistan is something I'm sure they were happy to sell.
What, exactly, are we supposed to be doing?
Well, they have problems and they want to blame somebody. We're easy to pick out in a crowd, so they point at us. I really don't think there is anything we will ever be able to do in the Middle East that will stop us from being the "bad guys".
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