First off, let me state my belief. The unrest in the middle east is not a direct reaction to the invasion if Iraq. It is but the final end product of European colonialism coming to a rock end. You cannot setup dictatorships then later decide they are bad and end them leaving a void. Even the current President is contributing to this power void by his actions in Libya and now Syria. Yeah invading Iraq had many bad results but we also do not fix things but turning tail and ignoring it.<p>ISIS and many in that area of world do not like Western nations because they see as us both immoral and a threat to their beliefs. We then feel guilt and don&#x27;t take action because of &quot;fears&quot; it will further the problem while totally ignoring the fact that sitting back and watching is merely allowing them to establish their foothold and carry out wholesale slaughter which in turn makes the victims of ISIS hate us for not helping.<p>As per a government official being cynical, look at it from the stand point of his job. He thinks he knows what he needs to do but finds most avenues blocked because the government tends to take an authority given to it and abuse it to no end.<p>As an American I know there is a price to freedom and I want my encryption and such because I don&#x27;t trust all elements of my government. I want that illusion of freedom preserved. When terror once again comes to our shores how many won&#x27;t?