MrMax,
et al,
There is a mistake here.
What chance is there of arab unity in any future, it will either be an extremist controlled caliphate with many deaths and illiteracy. Or it will be a moderate modern control that will make friends with all nations and bring an end to terrorism. In either scenario the Palestinians will be destroyed while Israel will be secure behind an IRON WALL
Eventually the Pals will see that it's in their interest to surrender and make peace. It worked wonders for Japan and Germany. Anyways, the different factions of Islam are too busy car bombing each other over who gets to be their pope, to be of any real use to the Pals.
PS America has troops in Saudi Arabia, meaning we own Mecca, the carpet kissing capital of the world.
(COMMENT)
While there may be a few advisors in Saudi Arabia, there are no conventional US combat elements in the Kingdom; especial none - anywhere near - the holiest sites of Islam
(Mecca and Medina); none.
The US does not want to, in any way, threaten the holiest sites in Islam. It serves no strategic purpose for American Interests and can only have a negative impact.
The US is gradually changing its strategies from one of a political-military hegemony, to that of a nation with influential economic and commercial resources with networking connections; backed by the umbrella protection of its military. To some extent, our friend "pbel" is correct, the US cannot hope to secularly tame and politically co-opt the such nations as Iraq or Afghanistan. It is inconsistent with the developmental potential of such nations having similar historical profiles.
The US will not have a chance to make a positive impact on the Middle East for several generation, if even then. It needs to back away slowly and let the natural forces of the region seek a balance. However, the political aspirations in America are not likely to understand that concept for quite some time into the future.
Most Respectfully,
R