...but then, it's a pretty nasty world.

Speaking personally, I feel that Israel should not exist, but I do support its existence and have done so, per its historical record. The birth of Israel occurred shortly after World War II, a useless, barren, largely unoccupied "land," apparently a parcel promised to the Jewish people 3000 years ago by God. I do not recall any literature wherein God actually handed this "Promised Land" over, but I do recall reading where the United Nations voted to accept the State of Israel, with its defined borders, to its charter, which provoked angst among the few Palestinians in the area. This being the case, Israel now exists and should therefore enjoy all the rights, freedoms and privileges of any other accepted UN nation, including protection from and the deterrence of unprovoked outside aggression. Israel attempted to extend its meager borders to further develop unoccupied sectors of desert land. Palestine moved in and said the land had always been theirs, and the war was underway. Israel backed off, and Palestine, unhappy with its claim to arid land, was further angered, demanding restitution for -- something or other. The shooting continued. Any argument Palestine might have against the State of Israel should be taken up with the UN, not with Israel, for it is the UN which permits the existence of both nations in their current form.

Two facts any critic needs to get over:

UN Member-State Israel is a done deal.

UN Nonmember-State Palestine is angry at this and has conniption fits unbecoming of any true nation.

And that's it.

...Ain’t life a bitch?

My philosophy is that we should withdraw from the Middle East, but at the same time continue to provide material support for our allies in their obvious war against IS militants.

Let me repeat:

"Our focus should be on assistance to Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in defeating a shared enemy. This is their backyard, they know the culture, and the Islamic State’s (IS) threat toward Western civilization strikes directly at their main interests. The West is where all that tasty, decadent money lies. We should be directing engagements with the local forces (listed above), not blocking them. If they are prepared to strike, even within the sovereignty of Syria, let ‘em loose. I have no problem with our allies attacking our enemies.

"Pretty cut-n-dried."