Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I'd like to see the US pull out of all ME operations. Enough already.

For better or worse, probably can't be done. 

We're the only ones who can threaten folks into mildly behaving (we're not gonna trust Europe to do it). If we drop backing Israel, the Islamic world will try to wipe them out. And if things get that dire for Israel, they'll nuke 4-5 Arab capitals, and then we're all in a heap of trouble. 

Such is life. 

We're tied to Israel (and Egypt) via the Camp David Accords from back in the 1970s.  And of course we tend to give Israel military aid when asked.

Another factor is interest is sea lanes for commerce.  The US Navy is practicably the only force able to ensure them, and when they get imperiled, it does impact the US.

I suspect most of "us" would prefer seeing a lower level of US commitment overseas, but it's just not going to happen, realistically, no matter who gets elected.  This is also one main reason our military spending is so high.  No other country has anything like the US' ability to "project power".

Yep, Ike warned us. And here we are.

And why can't we leave it to Europe to protect Israel? Or have Israel protect itself?

What happens if "we" take out Yemen? Lebanon? All hell breaks loose is what happens.

If "we" go after Iran, now China, Russia and Rocket Man get involved.

There is NO solution.

Just need to keep the shipping lanes open and that's it. Enough with the arms supplying and boots on the ground.

I feel bad for the people in Gaza but, I don't want Americans over there losing their lives trying to prevent both sides from killing each other as they've done for centuries and will be doing centuries from now.

And why can't we leave it to Europe to protect Israel? Or have Israel protect itself?

Because until we (the US) began guaranteeing their security under the umbrella of NATO, there was a major, wholesale shooting war on the Continent about ever 30-40 years. Considering that Europe had been destroyed twice in the 35 years prior to the formation of NATO, it was a good investment then and remains so now.

Interesting of Bill Maher by Reason Magazine: 

https://reason.com/2024/01/29/the-last-liberal/

Bill Maher is one of my favorites because whether you agree with him or disagree (and I disagree a fair bit), he's pretty much always insightful, funny, and gives you something to think about. And apparently he's generally seen that way by most:

December, the public research firm WPA Intelligence came out with a small survey with potentially huge—and widely ignored—implications for institutional media, entertainment, and government.

Asking 1,000 registered voters which of eight listed media personalities they trusted, the firm found podcast iconoclast Joe Rogan—who has been serially singled out by the Joe Biden White House for COVID-19 "misinformation"—in second place with 36 percent, just edging out former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's 35 percent and Daily Wire impresario Ben Shapiro's 33, and far ahead of the industry-respected CNN anchor Jake Tapper (23 percent).

In first place, with 40 percent, including the highest ratings of the group among political independents? Comedian Bill Maher.

Thought some of you might enjoy this one. 

I like Maher, but it's not tough to top that list.  
Carlson is a clown who acknowledges blatantly lying.
Shapiro is a fast-talking religious zealot with aspergers.
.
At least Maher isn't blindly on either end.  He's not bigger because he's 60+ years old and all of his references are ancient, but he's doing okay for himself.