>The sad part here is that those people who have essentially been swindled have succumbed willingly essentially in the name of religion. Their leaders are keepi

>The sad part here is that those people who have essentially been swindled have succumbed willingly essentially in the name of religion. Their leaders are keeping the faith. >So it's sad to me that not only are people so easily manipulated through religion but also what a huge lost opportunity this was. What, really, do any Middle Eastern countries have to show for this massive windfall? Actually the Ba'athist dictators and monarchs are against the faith. The only country in Middle East with proper theocratic state is the Iranians, and they are doing "alright" so far as a middle power who is in a decades-long cold war with the current Superpower.