We, Americans, truly are a strange lot. Our government in Washington – ostensibly representative of "We the People" – speaks of peace, but wages endless war, prattles on about "freedom," but backs absolute monarchs and authoritarian strongmen the world over. A bipartisan array of politicians warns of the evils of radical Islamic (though Islamist is more accurate) terrorism; and yet, truthfully, the US once supported and/or funded those same extremists not too long ago.In some cases, and certain circumstances, it backs them still; until, that is, all those guns are turned on the US military, or those fighters threaten Washington's (ever shifting) "interests."

Perhaps, one imagines, there are lessons here: be careful who you arm; be careful where you meddle; today's "friends" are, all too often, tomorrow's enemies; and, in the turbulent Middle East, sometimes less is more.