I don't generally subscribe to the notion of an isolationist America, but the Middle East is one of those insolvable quagmires where, it seems, the warring tribes and factions may need to fight it out to determine whether they ever want peace. I'm not convinced, after having seen the oil crises, terror attacks, genocide and refugees my entire adult life, that our presence in that region is doing one iota of good. We gave 'em with our blood and treasure an Arab Spring, as Mr. Bush well knows, and it only made things worse.
These age-old enmities cannot be stilled because hate is their water of life. I understand what Mr. Bush is saying - I certainly didn't oppose the Iraq war and even shared his idealism - but fifty years on I feel exactly what President Trump feels - no more visits to Dover Air Force Base and Walter Reed.