Let's Face It, The Middle East Is a Nightmarebr Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates - Kaufman Centerbr The rise of ISIS, the disintegration of Iraq, Syria's ongoing civil war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the promise and peril of the Arab Spring... What role should America play in the Middle East? For some, America's restraint has been a sign of disciplined leadership. But for others, it has been a sign of diminished strength and influence.