Point 1: ...so we must acquiesce to the No. 1 state sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world ...
Iran is not the 'No. 1 state sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world.' If one wants to be accurate, then they should say they are the No. 1 state sponsor of Shia Islamic terrorism in the world. That is correct, but if you say 'Islam' then you must also look at Sunni Islamic terrorism (the Sunni branch of Islam has the highest number of adherents in the world, and the Sunni-Islam terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, Islamic State, Al Nusra, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Abu Sayyaf, etc are the most numerous jihadi groups in the world).
Iran is not even in the top three global exporters of terrorism. Not even in the top three, and Iran as the 'world's largest exporter of terrorism' is a statement that is oft-repeated but always untrue.
Number one is Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is the fount of all Wahhabist/Salafist ideology that fuels Sunni-Islam terrorist groups ranging from Al Qaeda/Al Nusra/Taliban in the ME to Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines to Al Shabaab in Somalia to Boko Haram in West Africa to Islamic State in the ME and North Africa. The mosques built by the Kingdom are the reasons the 'kiddish' versions of Islam in Somalia and Afghanistan in the 70s morphed into what you see today.
Number two is Pakistan. Pakistan is a state supporter of terrorism, financing the various Sunni groups thay attack India. Additionally, Pakistan was one of two countries (the other being Saudi Arabia) thay formally recognized the Taliban regime. Additionally, the country is the LEAD exporter of nuclear technology through the AQ Khan network, and is directly responsible for the North Korean program. Nice work for an 'ally,' not to mention how Usama bin Laden hid out at kissing distance from their version of West Point.
Number three is Qatar. Qatar? Huh? Well, at the beginning of Islamic State, it is Qatar that funded and sustained them until they started being financially independent. Qatar is a smaller version of Saudi Arabia.
Then, after that, one can slot in Iran.
However, since Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Qatar are our 'allies,' Iran gets bumped up to the top. By the way I am not saying Iran is 'alright' ...they sponsor the likes of Hezbollah, and are anti-Israel. But they are not the 'No. 1 state sponsor of Islamic terrorism in the world.'
Point 2: ...And sadly, it appears that America, once the sheep dog, has joined with the sheep. ...
I am about to say something even more controversial than stating that Iran is not the 'No. 1 state sponsor of Islamic terrorism.' That America, under the leadership of Obama and Hillary, and with people like McCain being in the opposition (yet being similar to Obama than dissimilar), that America under the current administration is neither sheep nor sheepdog, but rather is the wolf. Look at the 'work' that Obama has wrought in Libya and Syria, and tried to do in Egypt, and tell me that is the work of 'good.' Look at how American freedoms have come under pressure from Obama. Look at how you can get your business shut down for refusing to bake a cake for a gay couple.
This is why the next election will be very important. A Reagan-esque leader must come to prevent America from becoming the evil empire.
There are sheep, there are sheepdogs, and there are wolves ....but sheep do become sheepdogs, wolves can become sheep, and sheepdogs can become wolves.
What's interesting is we may be looking at an era where most major states are either wolves or sheep. Just because the US is looking more and more wolf-like doesn't mean Russia is now a sheep dog ...not at all, it is still a wolf (and a rabid one at that). Europe is either sheep (e.g. the likes of Sweden and Germany) or wolves (the likes of the French and the British). Everyone else is a sheep.
The world is in need of a sheep dog, and until America elects a Reagan-esque president it is looking like for the past couple of years the US has had wolf-like tendencies.
I have to disagree, this country is not acting wolf like. Certain segments may be but by and large the majority are sheeple. I also don't see Russia as a sheep dog, they are still wolves I also see the same tendencies in both China and North Korea.
I agree with point #2. I have to add that Western Cultures with Judeo-Christian principles have turned against God. Now we are seeing the consequence of that.