It's not 1980 anymore, because since then we've had our big ol' foot trampling all over the mideast. Or if not our feet, one of our friendly dicatator's feet. And our weapons. And our money.
Playing Empire will always open you up to terrorism, because terrorism is the only logical way that some poor and powerless schlub has to smack you right in your face. I mean, if Yemen had nuclear weapons and drones they might have some carriers sitting off of DC with drones patrolling VA and NY, but they don't have that. So their next best option is terrorism.
If you believe that we should keep dumping bombs and bullets and money all over the mideast, then that's fine. I'm not sure what you think it is going to accomplish since ever since we've started the situation has only gotten more convoluted and worse than before, but hey, Empires gotta' Empire I guess.
But let's not fool ourselves that if we just dump some more bombs, bullets, money and blood over there, that it's going to get better.
Let them murder each other. We have enough intelligence that we don't need a US footprint over there. We're hollowing out our country to play Empire, which is why Empires implode.