But regarding your last sentence about my 'getting the cart before the course'........do you believe in the Sovereignty of God? Do you believe, as Scripture says, that he puts leaders in place, and removes them? Do you believe that world events are under His Sovereign will?
Of course I believe in the sovereignty of God. And there is a purpose to everything that happens, but I do not presume to know God's purpose. It suppose it could be the Benign Domino Theory. But I doubt it.