United States Involvement in Mideast

Here’s a question none of the verbose geopolitical commentators and analysts seem to be asking about the current Middle East ruckus: What’s the worst thing that could happen if the United States sat this one out, letting the Arab emirates and the United Nations pour oil on the troubled waters there?

Possible answers might include:

--U.S oil companies would just have to make do with the profits they were reaping before the crisis.

--Congress’ pruning of the Pentagon’s obese budget would continue without any second thoughts.

--Public attention and congressional action would remain focused on our basket-case economy and predicted recession, as well as the S&L; morass.

--America might come to see that it doesn’t have to be the cop, judge and jury of the world after all.

ED MITCHELL

Los Angeles