What do we want from the Middle East to secure our peace? Neither democracy nor a moderate form of Islam—only that the region's leaders neither make nor allow war on us, lest they die.

Here is the problem -- who has initiated war in the Middle East - either by proxy or overtly?

We have. In a nearly all cases the West has been the initiator of violence against people in the Middle East and Africa. In the old days the of the British Empire they did not even hide their reason and rationale - they wanted the resources pure and simple. Our nation has in a round about way done the same thing - but we left out the fact that we need their oil - want their oil and are willing to take it by force if necessary. So your buddy Angelo can wax philosophical all he wants about "All we want is to live in peace..." but as long as he leaves out the meat and potatoes "And access to your natural resources - on our terms" we'll have problems. Wake up. Be honest with yourself - you want what they have, and you have the force to take it. Now how you deal with this morally is up to you. But have heart from what I hear of the poppy harvest this year, you can "self-medicate" all you want...