I haven't a clue what should be done with the middle east.
They are damned by their damaged genome, their religion, and their
inability to compromise,and from now on their declining wealth.

The rest of the world will have declining wealth but it will be worse
in the middle east and they will have to try and find the best men
and women they have to put the region onto a sustainable path.
The decline in middle east oil production will have a major impact.
However they have a decade or two of affordable oil production.
We all thought the "Arab Spring" was a fundamental shift but it was not
what it seemed. It was nothing but a complaint about declining wealth
and the reduction of food & fuel subsidies.

They were unable to see that the solution had to be in their own hands
and not blame the Israelis, Americans and Europe for their problems.

Hi Bazz,

Yes, I think you are on the mark. One of the problems with rentier economies, i.e. economies which rely on one or very few resources, and divvy out the proceeds to their populations, is that instead of building an economy, it seems that they have simply splurged vast amounts of valuable income, on idiotic Burj towers, Palm islands, etc., instead of putting it into future funds, education funds, etc.

Perhaps, as you might have mentioned, we are talking about tribal societies, especially tribal societies which despised work, labour, and have usually relied on slave or 'guest' labour, at least since the seventh century - and until recently, have had buckets of income to hand around. It's been a sort of ideal situation for rentier societies, bludger societies to put it more precisely: plenty of income, all almost for free, at least it didn't require much effort. Allah be praised.

So now that the revenue is declining, they can blame - who ? Ah yes, the west, capitalism (as if they are not capitalist of the most predatory sort ?), past imperialism, Israel, anything but themselves.

So now, once the dust settles, they will have to work for their livings, whoever is left after the wars. Life is tough.

Joe

Its a fact that Saudi Arabia and Islamic State share the same 'Wahhabist' ideology.
So, as for the Saudi's, when their mouths say they oppose Islamic State, their hearts say otherwise.