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We started this mess. Recall that we were told that after we get rid of Saddam, that Iraq will become a shinning example for the rest of the ME, and the world. That the guy was such a bad guy that the world will be a far better place without him.

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The mess was started a long time age when the Allies stuffed up the breakup of the Ottoman Empire.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement

It is, of course, easy to be wise long after the event.

... or when the Mongols brought about the end of the Golden Age of Islam. ;)

While it's tempting to look for a single, recent starting point for Western-Muslim issues, it's also worth mentioning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Martel (about 1200 years earlier). And then, >350 years later, there's the crusades.

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