“We need a base of operation in the middle east, not only to combat terrorism that threatens national security but also if there ends up being a bigger war at some point.”
Nope. A this point our presence there CAUSES the wars. And besides, if we can’t force our way into any middle east nation we choose, we should just go ahead and disband the USN and USMC.
They have ZERO capability to prevent our entry anytime we please.
Like when we pulled out of Iraq and ISIS took over?
You're one extreme to the other and both are idiotic.
Overthrowing secular dictatorships and nation building is idiotic but so is the Paul/Obama belief that ignoring Islamic terrorism will result in Islamic terrorists leaving us alone. They won't. They hate this country if for no other reason than we are aligned with Israel.