"Marc Adler" <marc.adler@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:hbt0d.512$YU2.276@twister.socal.rr.com...
> Kevin Wayne Williams wrote:
>
> > Are you joshing? When people talk about trouble in the Middle East, you
> > think that Israel *isn't* a part of what they are talking about?
>
> Most of the time, no, actually. They think the trouble is all on the
> Palestine side of the wall (which is going to need a name pretty soon).

In my mind, Israel, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, in that order, are
borderline candidates for inclusion in the Middle East. How about all of the
Islamic former Soviet republics in the region. Are they considered a part of
the Middle East as well?