It would seem that 1) crashing planes into the World Trade Center 2) Killing Israeli Olympic Athletes and 3) Hamas killing hundreds at a rock concert are strange ways to advertise a free Palestinian State and toning-down of oppressive Zionism. I'm aware of the Zionist transgressions, but the British created Israel not us (and now they're our Nation's flypaper), and I suppose some in Arab States are still grateful for a hedge against the Turks and Iranians (yes, kinda ironic but that's world politics). The anti Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan threads indeed point out less-than transparent, perhaps over-reactions by our government, except for a few things, 1) Our enemies, Soviets/China, Al Queda/ISIS/Iran are actually much worse than we are 2) "Pushback" reminds these enemies of our strengths and 3) They actually have a rather happy-ending (Vietnam is now m.o.l. our partner on PRC pushback, Taliban manageable by West through "buy-offs" (which at least sometimes relaxes oppression of women, opposes ISIS), Iraq helped rally NATO, establish Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, m.o.l. keep Iran in check. Remember too, the world is much more Democratic than it was in the 70s, so we must be doing something right (our culture/economy probably winning people over more than bombs, some "Arab Spring" things popping up). Going forward, the West will need to figure out what to do with Armenians, Kurds, Sikhs, etc, as if we follow the "Israel rule" we may solve one problem while creating another. UN 242 re: creating a Palestinian State to balance Israel has been on the table since 1947, Israel's handlers are paying the price for not implementing it.