The world's civilisation started in the Middle East. The three monotheistic religions started in the Middle East. Our connection to the Middle East, Christianity, has existed longer than the religion of Islam. We cannot leave the Middle East.
We can't leave because of religion? Christianity has existed longer than Islam therefore .... and both are derived from Judaism. Should we all therefore perfect ourselves and become Jews? And even older perhaps one of the pagan religions. There are some Christian fundamentalists who like the idea of Zionism because it fulfills the prophetic scriptures. Strange you would select Israel as your center when early Christianity moved away from Palestine as they could gain not many converts there as Judaism had a firm hold on the inhabitants. Instead early Christians found more converts in Greece, so why not cannonize the early Christian churches in Greece and Asia Minor?
When Pres Carter stated the ME was in our national interest he did not mean for religious reasons. He meant for geo-eco-political reasons i.e. protect Israel, control the oil, stop Communism's advances. No where does he say anything about staying in the ME for religious reasons.
They hate western civilisation because we are not members of their sect of Islam!
Strange as I can find verses in the Qur'an which state Muslims do not hate the west. I can then say just as in the Bible one can find supporting verses for anything. But then perhaps Christians are using the "Giuoco Piano" plan of attack to take over the world. It would then be the most patient plan as it is older than Islam and would eventually crush them into non-existence.
I found what would appear to be your source of information.
1,400 Years of Christian/Islamic Struggle: An Analysis Religious racism at it's best.
