"The time for pulling out of the Middle East is long past due. Time to step back and let them sort out their long-held animosities on their own and to try and repair relations from a distance."

I agree. That's option one with me as I've stated more than a few times.

As for McCarthy, I don't think old Gene would have got the US in there in the first place. Logistics--without the use of nuclear weapons--militate against long distance wars. They're just too expensive. It's time for countries to use armies as defensive mechanisms and not as international politics by other means. As someone on this thread wisely said, more Americans have been killed by home-grown gun wielders than by Muslims. Lots more. So we're saying the same thing I think. As was recently said by Canada's Minister of National Defence Harjit Singh Sajjan:

'There is a lot of "political talk," Sajjan said. "It's hard for me to talk in that political realm, I know I'm a politician. But I think, Canadians, if you are honest with them, they will understand things. Whether it is giving them bad news or good news, or the situation, we can trust Canadians. They are smart enough … they can call bullshit very quickly." '