Let's see... we have troops (or some open military presence) in:
- Saudi Arabia
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Qatar
- Persian Gulf
- Pakistan
- Egypt
- Kuwait
- Yeoman
- Turkey
- did I miss any?
Not to mention the Israeli army, which is generally considered an ally.
In other words, we've got more troops in the Middle East now than we every had in Europe during the Cold War?
Damn straight Syria and Iraq are starting to get nervous, and Libya suddenly got religion! If the terrorists of the region want a fight with Americans then they don't have far to go.
"Damn straight Syria and Iraq are starting to get nervous..."
Yes, but the theme of the discussion was really the power that comes from a collective will - the voters who risked their lives in Iraq.
And the protesters in Lebanon, in the presence of the Syrian troops.