.. and talking of trouble on their back door, in addition, I wonder if China's 'concession' and 'honesty' is nothing more than a red herring?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6974797.stm
The US (and NATO I assume..) is going to have its hands full in the near future. God knows the US/we need(s) to resolve the ME problem.. and pronto.